In October 2024, New Orleans-based troubadour, Devin Johnson had two releases. One was a one-off single called “Trump Ruined My Sex Life” and the second was his debut full-length album, The Future Is So Near. “Trump Ruined My Sex Life” does not appear on the LP but it feels instructive. Of the single, Johnson said “this was written basically in the first week after Trump took office in 2017 still seized by disbelief and anxious nausea at the reality we were in. Just got around to recording it a little while ago. Hopefully it ceases to be relevant soon.” The eye catching song title and sardonic description of the track is basically what the whole The Future Is So Near album is like.
While none of the song titles on the album are as arresting as “Trump Ruined My Sex Life,” there is still plenty of dry-humor to go around. On opening track, “Need A Haircut,” Johnson describes needing to cut his hair for his job which was only supposed to be a part time gig. The song explores the existential dread of thinking you are doing something for a short time and then slowly realizing that this is the rest of your life but Johnson does it in his disaffected drawl over folksy jangle pop, making it read as humorous.
That same existential dread is seen throughout the album. “Jesus Is Gone” tries to reconcile earthly religions with scientific fact that an infinite universe exists. Johnson questions “does Jesus love other planets more than me?” On “I Only Drink Cuz I’m Depressed” Johnson sings “Donald Trump is gonna start a world war” before repeating the song’s title.
A full album of existential songs could be tiresome but Johnson does throw in a few sincere songs. “Love You More” is a fairly traditional love song with little tongue-in-cheek moments. Similarly, “Are You Sad?” reads as a tender song of devotion even if the title could be read sarcastically.
While the tender moments may not be the album’s best, they are necessary. They make The Future Is So Near a more balanced affair and a damn good debut album.
Rating: 7.7/10
