Johnny 5th Wheel & the Cowards - Spike
The latest offering from Johnny 5th Wheel & the Cowards is definitely whimsical and a little bit different. Feeling in places like a childhood rhyme gone wrong, this particular brand of folk and pop is slightly more menacing than usual, with b-side Yes, That's Right, We're Stealing Your Soul sounding like the monster under your bed.
But back to Spike, the main track. The mention of calling the titled character Spike names in the playground only serves to enhance the childlike feel - 'don't be mad with me, Spike,' entreats singer Johnny. 'Quirky' is a word that I'm hesitant to use too often; it often feels like an easy way out, lazy shorthand for something a bit different, but it definitely fits here.
Deceptively simple to start with, Spike draws you in before turning tail and slowly creeping up behind you. Yes, That's Right is a stand-out track in its own right, unapologetic about the aforementioned soul-stealing. They're not just stealing your soul, but your ears as well.
Clever where they need to be and nothing short of inventive, Johnny 5th Wheel hit all the spots that you won't even know that you had - regardless of whether they needed hitting.