Johnny Foreigner - ‘How To Be Hopeful’ review
Johnny Foreigner
Tomorrow 13 September, Johnny Foreigner triumphantly return with How To Be Hopeful, their first album in eight years. Spanning 12 tracks and a brisk 43 minutes, the album reaffirms why they’re such revered stalwarts of the UK DIY scene—and why they’ve remained one of our all time favourites. It’s a raw and relentless blend of indie punk and emo, delivered with the signature scuzz and angst that has always set them apart. Packed with nods to their earlier work and broader musical influences, the album feels like a messy yet intentional journey through their evolution. Sure, it’s 28 months overdue, but that just adds to its charm—it’s banger after banger after banger. Described by the band as a dual soundtrack, each side chronicles a tumultuous year of highs and lows: chaos, consequence, and connection all intertwined. As the band puts it, “This is our celebration record, our fell-in-love-and-stopped-worrying album, the glowing cathartic coda that we couldn’t help but channel.”
We first got a taste of How To Be Hopeful in June, when the band surprised fans with the EP the sky and sea were part of me, or I was part of them. The EP served as a teaser for what was to come, including two tracks that found their way onto the album—“What The Alexei” and “Orc Damage.” Both the EP and the full album explore themes of joy and love emerging from chaos, a reflection of the uncertainty that seems to define the world right now. With an EP that strong, I was counting down the days for the album—and, thankfully, it’s every bit as golden as I’d hoped.
The album kicks off with “Roisin Dose Advice Now,” and from the very first note, Johnny Foreigner are in classic form. The track bursts with their signature sound—angular, overdriven guitars, call-and-response vocals, and relentless, pounding drums that set a powerful tone right out of the gate. It’s an absolute powerhouse of an opener, musically setting everything on the right foot. Lyrically, Alexei dives into the chaos of yet another failed relationship, reflecting on advice from his friend Roisin. Instead of finding himself through others, he loses himself in his own thoughts and music. And, of course, it only takes five seconds for Alexei to drop a trademark Johnny Foreigner line, complete with the word “cursed.” It’s quintessential JoFo, and if you need an introduction to what this band is all about, this track is the perfect entry point.
Next up is one of my absolute favourites on the album, “The Blazing World.” And just a heads-up—you’re going to hear me say "favourite" a lot in this review because, let’s be real, it’s a brand-new Johnny Foreigner album, and they’re one of my all-time fave bands. This record absolutely slaps. Even by JoFo’s chaotic standards, this track is frantic, packing a ton into its 2:43 runtime. It’s like being a kid again, cramming as much into a Woolworths pick ‘n’ mix cup as you can, with Myke trying to sneak in a whole Kinder Egg for good measure.
Sonically, it's like imagining what Blink-182 might’ve sounded like if they’d been from Birmingham instead of California and had backing vocals sung by a bassist called Kelly. Lyrically, “The Blazing World” takes us down to the pub, where the band is drinking and staying for "one more," grappling with the irony of celebrating a friend’s life while mourning their loss. It’s raw, real, and packed with emotion—a true JoFo banger through and through.
Birmingham and the West Midlands have an undeniably rich musical heritage, spanning metal, Bhangra, two-tone, and more, with countless genres tracing their roots to this culturally diverse area. Yet no band feels as distinctly or honestly Brummie as Johnny Foreigner. Their mash-up of styles and unapologetically thick Brummie accents make them a true product of their hometown, wearing their origins proudly. The first half of How To Be Hopeful features two standout tracks from their precursor EP—“What The Alexei” and “Orc Damage”—with “Museum of Useless Things” neatly sandwiched in between.
“What The Alexei” is a milestone for the band: their first actual love song, blending personal emotions with nods to the music that raised them. It’s as much a tribute to those early indie influences as it is a vulnerable dive into new territory for JoFo. The band describes it as both a homage and a love letter—personal yet expansive. In Alexei’s own words, “I’m science, I don’t think a single universe could contain us,” reflects the heady rush of new love, where everything feels both monumental and intimate. There’s also a tongue-in-cheek moment where Alexei nods to a The Dismemberment Plan song about traversing a country for someone, only to wonder if he'd rather be alone in his own world. It’s filled with that wry JoFo humour and layered with introspection, making it a quintessential track for both old fans and new listeners.
Then there’s “Orc Damage,” a grim account of corporate greed and the fallout of an era coming to an end. It’s JoFo’s take on how capitalism chews people up and spits them out, dressed in scuzzy guitars and pounding drums. The lyrics are biting and direct—“Same job, a polo shirt and half the wage”—and the song captures the helplessness of navigating a collapsing system. The frustration builds as Alexei sings, “Let’s deal some damage, let’s seed some panic, let’s split some families up.” It’s angry, disillusioned, and cathartic, a grimly powerful anthem that resonates with the anger and disillusionment of a generation watching the system fail them.
In these tracks, Johnny Foreigner covers the emotional spectrum—love, loss, frustration, and reflection—all through the lens of their distinct sound and cultural roots. Each song is a testament to the band's ability to blend personal narratives with broader societal themes, creating music that feels both deeply individual and universally relatable.
The album’s first half closes with “Okay 1 More!,” the longest track and one of its quieter, more introspective moments. Here, the band sinks into a pensive, almost melancholic mood, capturing the emotional lows of the album’s journey. It feels like the weight of everything—failed relationships, personal secrets, and the chaotic collapse of both personal and external structures—comes crashing down. Roisin, introduced earlier in the album, reappears, her presence symbolising both loss and reflection as if she's a figure tied to past regrets and unresolved emotions.
Around the 1:45 mark, the song includes subtle nods to emo and scene classics as well as the band’s own back catalogue, as Alexei pours out raw emotions, weaving themes of secrecy, nostalgia, and tangled memories into the lyrics. The tension between public and private lives is palpable, with Alexei reflecting on how personal memories and emotions are now out in the world, much like the earlier references to “80k plays” in previous songs. This track beautifully encapsulates the band's knack for balancing personal reflection with broader emotional resonance, making it a sombre yet fitting midpoint for the album.
“This Is A Joke” opens the second half of the album with a biting commentary on societal disillusionment and personal frustration. The lyrics explore themes of escapism, disconnection from local scenes, and the overwhelming pressures of modern life. Alexei and the band reflect on how adults have mismanaged society, selling off assets and calling it “freedom,” while the rest of us are left grappling with the fallout—infighting, gaslighting, and a world spiralling into chaos. There’s a satirical edge as the lyrics call out the absurdity of political and social rhetoric, from transphobia to celebrity culture. The repeated refrain of becoming "the right amount of dumb" expresses the desire to numb oneself to the chaos, to feel less in a world that’s constantly pushing people to the brink.
Another favourite on the album is the second track of the second half, “Dark Tetris.” It slowly builds into a complete ripper, with so many gang vocals it feels like all the voices in your head screaming out at once. The song taps into a chaotic mix of nostalgia, regret, and emotional turmoil, reflecting on the struggles of addiction and the weight of unresolved relationships. The lyrics recount the story of Lauren, whose relapse into drugs triggers a flood of conflicting emotions—humour, concern, and longing for better times. Alexei grapples with missing significant moments, like birthdays, and losing touch with both people and time itself. The refrain about how "you never dream about it till you go to sleep without it" encapsulates the haunting nature of absence—whether it’s a person, a feeling, or a coping mechanism.
As the song progresses, Alexei reflects on the chaos and unpredictability of life, casting stones into lakes and letting the ripples break—a metaphor for surrendering to fate. “Dark Tetris” becomes a poignant exploration of the push-and-pull of past habits and the struggle to find peace amidst the chaos. With its frenetic energy and emotional weight, it's a standout moment on an already powerful album.
Around the halfway point of the album’s second half, we are hit with the recent single “Their Shining Path.” The track is another classic slice of Johnny Foreigner’s punky goodness, capturing all the energy and chaos we’ve come to expect. The inspiration for the song stems from a surreal 3am conversation with a stranger in a hotel smoking area—someone Alexei isn’t entirely sure was a regular mortal human. The setting, coincidentally just a short walk from where the band began recording, adds a layer of almost magical serendipity to the track.
Lyrically, "Their Shining Path" delves into a mix of cryptic imagery and raw emotion. Alexei sings of "sigils," "flotsam and jetsam," and stones thrown into the night, blending abstract metaphors with the theme of waiting for things to wash ashore, both literally and figuratively. It’s a story of belief and doubt, as Alexei reflects on his history of writing love songs that he inevitably regrets. The track’s infectious energy peaks in its chorus, where he belts out lines like “Star feature! A real scene stealer, a splendour!”—capturing the joy of shouting into the void, as if casting spells with his words. It’s a cathartic release, an anthem for embracing uncertainty while searching for signs of meaning in the chaos.
As the album heads into its twilight, we are presented with yet another favourite, the beautiful “Emily and Alex.” It’s a slower, more tender moment where Alexei reflects on the vastness of life’s possibilities, the role of fate, and the weight of personal choices. The song paints a picture of uncertainty, as Alexei contemplates the countless "Alexs and Emilys" in alternate realities, representing the different paths life could have taken. The imagery of stones thrown into the water and the resulting ripples evokes the idea of consequences and how small actions can shape the future.
A standout element in this track is Kelly’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, which provide a perfect counterbalance to Alexei’s introspection. Her voice adds a layer of emotional depth and tenderness, intertwining with Alexei’s reflections to amplify the song’s contemplative atmosphere. Together, their harmonies bring a delicate balance of reflection and acceptance, making “Emily and Alex” a serene, emotionally resonant moment that perfectly captures the bittersweet nature of life's journey.
How To Be Hopeful ends on a more, well, hopeful note than it begins, with the brilliant “We Build This City,” a perfect fusion of the band's slower, reflective moments and their frantic, high-energy bursts. The song wraps up the album’s emotional journey, providing a sense of resolution and growth. Roisin, a recurring figure throughout the chaos of the record, is revealed to have found love, symbolising that even amidst uncertainty, happiness can still be found.
Lyrically, the track is about moving forward, letting go, and embracing the unknown. The refrain “it gets better” is a hopeful reminder that growth and healing are within reach. Alexei reflects on how both he and those around him have evolved, celebrating the "pretty sunsets" while acknowledging the storms they've weathered along the way. And as the album fades out with the words "a perfect soundtrack," it’s almost like Johnny Foreigner are giving us a cheeky wink—because, let’s be honest, that phrase couldn’t sum up How To Be Hopeful any better. It truly is the perfect soundtrack for navigating life’s ups and downs, offering raw honesty, catharsis, and, ultimately, a sense of hope.
The eight-year wait for a new Johnny Foreigner album was more than worth it. How To Be Hopeful is frankly brilliant—raw, frantic, tender—it’s everything that made me fall in love with JoFo in the first place, and so much more. From the scuzzy, high-energy opener to the reflective moments that pack just as much emotional punch, the album perfectly balances chaos and introspection. Whether they’re tackling love, loss, or the absurdities of life, Johnny Foreigner continue to carve out their own path in the DIY scene with unmatched authenticity. This is a record that not only showcases their evolution but also reaffirms why they’ve been so beloved for over a decade. Truly, How To Be Hopeful is the perfect soundtrack for navigating life's messy, unpredictable journey—and it's one that’ll stick with you long after the final note fades.
How To Be Hopeful from Johnny Foreigner is out 13 September via Alcopop! Records and available on all good streaming platforms.
