It has been around a year and a half since Frank Lopes Jr., otherwise known as Hobo Johnson, turned into an internet sensation of sorts with his live backyard renditions of his and his bandmates’ original songs. The most popular and simultaneously, the most unbearably obnoxious of these being the Peach Scone video. He had an irritating cadence to his voice and it was just an uncomfortable and albeit unique fusion of rap, pop, rock and folk that just was not appealing in the slightest. However, the release of his first album, titled ‘The Rise of Hobo Johnson’ proved he was much better suited for a studio setting and that maybe Peach Scone was simply just a bad first impression. There is something about the imperfections in Johnson’s voice and delivery, literal mispronunciations and stutters in some of the songs, the juvenile poetic lyrics and the surprisingly fun and rich instrumentals, that finally struck a chord with the people who did not get it the first time around; “Demarcus Cousins & Ashley,” as well as “Sex in the City,” being among the best songs of the album. Luckily, Johnson’s sophomore effort, ‘The Fall of Hobo Johnson,’ only builds on this formula, for the better, but, also for the worse. 

“The Fall of Hobo Johnson” opens fantastically with a straight-up rock song in “Typical Story.” It is insanely fun and features Johnson’s typical cutesy lyrics about being awkward on dates and his usual expressive delivery, but ramped up to 11, where he showcases his effective screaming voice. It sets a nice precedent for what is to be an easy going first chunk of the album. “Mover Awayer” and “Uglykid” have Johnson further rapping about his insecurities about relationships, his image, etc. It is admittedly a bit eye-rolly but in that sort of charming Johnson way. “You & the Cockroach,” serves as a comical interlude that leads right into “Subaru Crosstrek XV,” one of the most charming and playfully produced songs on the album, where Johnson compares himself to that of the mediocre “Subaru Crosstrek XV.” “Moonlight” and “Happiness” has Johnson further rap/sing about “Ashley,” whom we can clearly gather from these songs as well as songs from his first album, is a flame of his whom he has not seen in quite some time. “Moonlight” incorporates certain lyrical templates from other songs of his, which seems like the point except it ultimately feels a bit like he could not think of anything new. “Happiness,” on the other hand, feels like one of the more passionate and personal songs on the album, with heartfelt lyrics involving how he flubbed his relationship with Ashley and how he hopes she can continue her pursuit of happiness without him; all set against a simple and elegant bare bones piano instrumental. 

The album reaches another peak at “All in My Head,” which features a beautiful melody and fantastic instrumental breakdown as Johnson goes through an existential crisis in real time. This is followed by “Ode to Justin Bieber” featuring, Jack Shoot and JMSEY, which feels like another nice interlude before Johnson goes off the wall with “February 15th” and “Sorry, My Dear;” the former being a more typical Johnson rant on how, as the chorus states, he will be alone forever. 

It is a bit melodramatic as Johnson absolutely screams the chorus, but still effective as it is a more passionate live version of the song in which we hear an audience sing along. “Sorry, My Dear” has Johnson scream again but with a completely unnerving and extremely effective filter that makes his voice twist and turn over an insane instrumental that again has Johnson experimenting with rock. 

The album finally completes with “I Want a Dog” in which Johnson pleads about wanting to have ambitions but ultimately settles for the easiest of options. It is a pleasing end to what was a pretty great follow up to “The Rise of Hobo Johnson.” The instrumentals are still fun and rich, the lyrics are still passionate and juvenile and the uniqueness is still very much present. If you understandably were not a fan then, you might warm up to him, but most likely will remain uninterested for now. However, for people wanting more, this album should satisfy that itch until his next one. Maybe more in the “Typical Story” direction? 

Image from Hobo Johnson via YouTube