Song : Nicotine Dream     Rating: 4/5

I don't need to say what the song sounds like, Johnnie's description above does the job. There is a solid old school punk vibe here with the thumping chords. It sounds like Mr Mac is having a lot of fun with this song which translates into a very enjoyable song that is full of energy and is really catchy!
tomatrax, SuperUser
09 Apr, 2009
 

Song : The Chant of Namatira     Rating 5/5

A cross between Midnight Oil and Yothu Yindi is an apt description. This is Australian rock as it should sound, full of energy, passion and interesting atmospheric sounds.Technically flawless. clever and creative. This is one of those moments where everything works!

tomatrax, SuperUser

09 Apr, 2009

Song : The Chant Of Namatjira
Rating: 5/5
well done johnnie, it's a great thing that your tracks are finally finding flight from your beautiful spot on the north coast of NSW and taking their rich melodies and powerful lyrics to the rest of the nation. Onya mate.
Robbie Buck, triple j

01 Apr, 2009

Song : The Chant Of Namatjira
Rating: 4/5
Great rhythms ,themes and chants in this song. Great use of the dig and vocal sounds of our own outback...One for the travellin' safari trousers..
trouserboy, SuperUser
09 Jun, 2009

Johnnie Mac's Acclaimed Debut Album' contains 10 original songs and has been recorded with other legendary Australian artists - drummer Malcolm Clark (of Sleepy Jackson fame), Bass player, Bill Jacobi (Goanna, Warumpi Band, Neil Murray and Floyd Vincent), Vocalist and percussionist, Kyle Slabb (collaborator on recordings with members of Yothu Yindi and traditional junior Bundjalung elder) and digitally mastered at Studios 301 by internationally renowned, award winning audio engineer Don Bartley. 'The World Seems Happy' is an upbeat, emotionally charged and thought provoking album with an honesty and integrity that leaves listeners feeling energised and invigorated - a refreshing change at a time when a good dose of musical tonic is most in need. 'The World Seems Happy' is an album that reflects the life of an artist who ignores the hype and is changing the world around him for the better through his music and his actions.

Here's a few reviews from recent buyers of this debut album which has taken the Australian independant music scene by surprise...

WHY HAVENT I HEARD OF JOHNNIE MAC BEFORE?

By Chris Voight, Music lover (25 ) Mt Tamborine, Queensland.

After hearing 'The World Seems Happy'...

A friend just told me to have a listen to this song... and after a pleasant surprise I've just gotta ask why I haven't heard of Johnnie Mac before??? This guy rocks and this song is brilliant. Australia's best kept secret for sure.

 

 

WHAT AN AMAZING AND FABULOUS CD... I CAN'T STOP PLAYING IT!

By Mary Yibi Yibi (Northern Territory, Australia)

An authentic and inspiring collection of sounds and songs from the heart of Australia. Jonnie Mac's music is full of soul speaking to our hearts and giving powerful rich messages, yet exuding a lightness and joy that keeps us upbeat all day. This album is an expression from the genuine roots of Australia, wonderfully delivered in the true style of story telling combined with cool original melodies and bucolic lyrics.

Overall, gutsy raw music that must be experienced by all!!!! Just brilliant!!!

 

 

DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR...

By A. Smith (Sydney Australia) ''ROCK ON''

Do yourself a favour and get your hands on this one ! This album blew me away - you know you've found a keeper when you can play every track from start to finish and nothing lets you down. I play this album time and time again.. I can't get enough.

Over the many years of music this album is certainly in my top ten - a mix of Violent Femmes,Hoodoo Gurus,Talking Heads and Midnight Oil what else would you want. Everyone remember the name 'Johnnie Mac', this guy is going to be BIG. I Guarantee it !

 

 

I JUST CANT GET ENOUGH!

By Tammie Eveleigh (Murwllumbah, New South Wales, Australia)

This is one of the most beautifully designed cd's I've ever seen. I love this album especially the songs - `One Farewell' with all the aboriginal words and sounds. Also the tearjerker `Can You Imagine' pulls at my heartstrings every time I hear it. This album is classic original rock music and each song is so different. The variety makes it very easy to listen to and shows Johnnie's diverse styles from rock to Beatle-esque folk. This album sounds awesome. I can't stop listening to it. Crank it in the car and it gets even better!

 
         

 

QUINTISENTIAL MUSIC FOR ANY SELF RESPECTING AUSTRALIAN COLLECTION

By Jusitne Wahlin, Presenter, Skid Row Radio (Sydney, Australia)

Johnnie Mac is a prodigy of the Aussie underground music scene who has finally emerged delivering his latest collection of songs with a captivating and rebellious raw energy. These songs tell stories that are oh so familiar - but only once we've been told. They weave their way into our psychies and paint pictures before our eyes. The years of ceaseless playing have shaped Johnnie into master of melody and a poetic lyricist...I'm overjoyed to finally have the product of his recent labours in my hot little hands...it'll be wearing thin in my cd player!

 

 

EARTHY, ROCKING, MAGICAL - THERE'S NOTHING LIKE JOHNNIE MAC!

By  Lucy Nesferatu ''Lucy'' (Japan)

When you first pick up this CD, you notice immediately there's something different about it. The care that has gone into the booklet, which is so beautifully designed, is apparent in the way Johnnie has taken the time to really explain the songs - how they came about and what they mean. You get a little closer to Johnnie's world, and a lot closer to his music.

Then you wack on the disc and POW! What a CD - I mean, this disc takes you everywhere - from the amazing world of Bundalung language and spirit to the punk rock heart of one of Australia's most revered and unstoppable songwriters. Johnnie Mac is up there with the likes of Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan as both a story teller and song writer. If you buy this CD, you won't be sorry - you'll be delighted every time you put it on, and never get tired of reading the CD insert - more book that cover. Support independent Australian music! Support artists that actually give a crap! Buy this CD NOW!!!!

Rebellious Aussie Rock Artist Puts Independent Back Into Indi, And Changes The Norm of The Music Industry By Giving Away 3,750 Free ‘Digital’ Fan Club Memberships From His Website

PRESS RELEASE for immediate release

At last... a rebel with a cause has appeared and is making ripples in the music industry system purely for the sake of promoting original indie music to a worldwide audience - with or without industry backing.

Rock music sensation, Johnnie Mac has spent the last 20 years happily playing his music on streets, stages and studios in all corners of the world, both solo and with an impressive list of talented musicians alongside him.

Pushed into the limelight by his growing fan base demanding more, Johnnie Mac finally emerges from the underground scenes with his new 9 track album “The World Seems Happy” and with, what some have called a rebellious approach to music promotion and distribution, which will surely make the music industry take notice.

Hearing acclaimed musicians comment that the internet is simply not being used to its full potential to market music, Johnnie decided he’d heard that message one too many times and was ready to take action.

Having found a proven system that has worked for other online ventures, Johnnie Mac and his team at Alchemy Music Australia are now paving the way for a ‘new’ type of fan club via “digital distribution” methods, which not only finds the fans, but also gives the artist a way to IMMEDIATELY contact and communicate with their fan-base.

Encouraging website visitors to leave their contact details by giving away 3,750 free fan club memberships, the Johnnie Mac mailing list is growing rapidly with international members joining every day... impressive achievement for an indie artist who only plays live gigs occasionally and hasn’t officially released the album for airplay.

Mikey Bowers, Managing Director of Alchemy Music, has been promoting and managing artists for years and is now formatting Alchemy Music with this new breed of digital communications after thorough research and watching the system work with other online ventures and businesses.

Mikey states… “With the massive growth of people seeking music on the internet, it is more about relationship building now than ever before. Indie musicians should all be putting energy into using electronic media to find a tailor-made international audience and then stay in constant contact with that fan base. Building a strong relationship with the fans is what will draw large audiences and sell cd’s. Rather than the artist perform  a gruelling gig schedule and send out hundreds of CD’s to radio stations - waiting to be ‘discovered’ and hoping for airplay, the system we are using is about being genuinely independent. Why wait!  ...and for what... to go into debt, be at the mercy of some major label exec and probably lose all artistic direction, not to mention creative control. Why not take the reins yourself!”

Alchemy Music Australia is currently testing and tweaking this model into one which is already making heads turns. Their initial tests are extremely positive in the marketplace with hundreds of fans coming to Johnnie Mac’s website.

See for yourself at www.johnniemac.com and you’ll see how his new strategy may very well take the music industry by storm. No doubt it will be watched with interest throughout the world.


Contact:
Mikey Bowers
Alchemy Music Australia
Tel: alchemy@johnniemac.com