On The Last Single Guy, enigmatic power-folkie Block captures the essence of the dark-side of a rock-n-roll lifestyle in Manhattan’s East Village. It is a memorable and revealing largely autobiographical album that depicts the life Block once led as a stalwart--and now survivor--of New York’s anti-folk scene, through 13 songs that recall Lou Reed’s seamy-side lyrics and wry, deadpan delivery.
Block’s wondrously unconventional music combines an underpinning of acoustic guitar with electronic effects and combinations of live instruments, sampling, and vocal effects. The Last Single Guy achieved great notice when it was released locally in New York in 2005, grabbing a prestigious “Album of the Week” slot on tastemaker radio station WFUV, where host Claudia Marshall called it a “remarkable record.”
On the lament “Christine’s Loft” a minimalist piano arrangement showcases Block’s wry vocals. He sings of the limitless possibilities and freedom of his youth during the metamorphosis of Alphabet City into a “punk theme park.” On the songs “Ave A” and “You Know The Way,” Block describes a night of errant debauchery at one of the many after-hours clubs he frequented. The Last Single Guy opens with “Color of Heaven”--a mission statement of sorts describing a search for the “power and the glory.”
Block and his longtime cohort Mark Hutchens (Blondie, Dave Matthews Band, Alice Cooper) experimented with many instruments and sounds, whether it’s a banjo played in the shower on the rousing mash-up of jug-band instruments and funky old school beats on “Sweet Potato Pie” or the penny whistle on his curious and compelling rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Show Business.”
Block is a survivor of the anti-folk scene, which flourished in New York’s Lower East Side and counted Michelle Shocked as one of its major success stories and Beck as part of its broader orbit. After an indie debut, he was signed to Java/Capital Records for 1998’s Timing Is Everything, but soon soured on the music business. While continuing to record and perform intermittently, he retreated to a series of financial industry jobs in New York City.
Here is a music video for "Sweet Potato Pie." Check it out!
Press Clips
"When Block took the stage...he immediately captivated the audience with friendly interaction and sardonic lyrics. At first glance, the band seems like nothing more than a bland trio, but Block is so much more than that. It has a unique blend of folk guitar, rock riffs, pounding drums, hip bass lines and sampled effects." - Diversions Music
"Taking two extremes of the spectrum, bare-bones acoustic folk and futuristic ambient-techno, Block is, if nothing else, original." - Faze 3
"It's in our Top 10 Records for 2006!" - Claudia Marshall, WFUV Radio, December 2006
I have just listened to your music. All your sounds are inspiration to me. I really appreciate that. Keep up the cool sound. In fact, special words may be unnecessary because I hope we are connected by music. Anyway, thank you so much for your request.
Thank you for your friendship and support! Songs For Choice is a benefit compilation uniting artists from all over the world in support of the preservation of justice and women's rights, Songs For Choice spans the spectrum of progressive music. The result is a compilation that not only features many of today’s most intriguing artists, it's also a call to action...
![johanna block [http://twitter.com/johannablock]](http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/107/s_98c06347e9cb47e0a363b483c678d16b.jpg)
