A scathing retort to self imposed victimhood. Biting the head of trend chasing and the general lack of personal responsibility.

The Bridge

Flavor Of The Day

03 - Flavor Of The Day

There are so many super talented people out there that have been relegated to playing for chump change and not even given a second glance while talentless hacks are making fistfuls of dollars and scooping up accolades from those swayed by a good marketing campaign. Seriously, unjust. People are so busy competing with each other and consuming bullshit that they've lost touch with an appreciation for talent and dedication. "Ain't No Star" is a middle finger to all contrived soulless drivel aimed at the lowest common denominator that passes for music these days.

The title was inspired by all the times some jack ass said to me, "Don't quit your day job!" or "Do you know how slim the odds are of "Making it?", as if the only reason to ever bother to perform and create music was for the sole purpose of landing fame and fortune. WTF?? These words always seem to slip from the mouths of those who never had the guts to find out who they really were and lived their lives parallel to the rest of the world , how boring.

Disc Zero

Ain't No Star

Pop/bluesy feel to this one. There are a lot of people who evaluate their lives based on "Where they are" at certain points on a time line. They want what everyone else has without really asking themselves why they want that. Just following a social standard set by people who have something to gain through you buying into the "dream".

This is all well and good for some people... some people take it a step further and are not only unhappy with what they worked so hard to attain... they can't let others be happy with their own accomplishments. Fortunately I only have a handful of these people anywhere near my life and certainly don't keep them close. But it is really sad to watch someone be so unsatisfied with their own choices.

And Begin Again

Happy?

I have a few friends out there coping with sudden loss or expected loss of loved ones and it is pretty heart wrenching and helpless experience standing in the sidelines while they suffer it out. I tried to put myself in their position and I gotta tell you, this song hit me hard, and because of that it was difficult to record as words kept choking me up.

I have other friends out there who, like me, battle depression and other mental illness as well and this song could very easily about a loss of self. I guess the underlying theme of the songs is that no matter how much we suffer, no matter what we endure, we will always be OK. I think it is important for your loved ones to know that you will be OK after they pass, and in most circumstances it is because of them that you will be OK, they showed you how to be OK, they showed you how to love, they showed you that you being you was good enough for them.

Reasons

A song about leaving the past where it is and moving onward to new adventures. Moving on is a mental choice, free your mind from the idea of where you were, what you had, or who you had and march forth into the next chapter of your life. Burn the bridge, bask in its glow, then move your focus forward on what is within your control that will help you make progress in serving yourself. Many times, if you are open to possibilities, you will find that greatness is just a choice away.

Bridges

06 - Bridges

We all have sides of ourselves that we doubt. This song is basically a series of thoughts that run through my mind anytime I meet a new person. I value being authentic, but I also value my privacy and struggle to let people deeper into my head. I generally save it all for music. Essentially it is asking myself, if I show certain sides of myself to the world will I be embraced or shunned?  For the record, despite what my brain tells me, mostly it is an embrace. We're all not that different usually. I tend to show my worst sides first and if people are still standing I then feel I can open up freely.

My Other Side

05 - My Other Side

A song about my relationship with music and how I've used it as not only a creative output, but as self therapy and retrospect. Music has been the one constant in my life, my whole entire life! I'm a fan or a student of music even more so than I would consider myself an artist of music.

HOWEVER...

When the day comes that I pack in this life thing, music will be what I leave behind to be remembered by and there is so much of it left in my head and time is zipping along. You get the picture, music is my chance to leave a tattoo on the world.

I Have Imagined

04 - I Have Imagined

A song about being and uncle, or a parent... from a distance

Dear Child

02 - Dear Child

In short, coping with stress by turning to unhealthy habits instead of dealing with the stressors.

Over The Edge

01 - Over The Edge

Rock Johnson, known to many as vocalist/guitarist of the bands Broke on Payday, Chaos Theory, Low Cut Monday & From All Sides, has been an integral part of songwriting teams in varied acts since the early nineties. Rock remains heavily involved in the Canadian East Coast music scene.

2021 sees the release of Rock's fourth studio album "The Bridge". "The Bridge" is equal parts rock and acoustic pop. For those familiar with Rock’s solo work the album may feel like a logical forward step building on his three prior releases “And Begin”(2011), “Disc Zero”(2016) and “Reasons”(2017). Those who know him for his hard rock roots may be in for a bit of a surprise.

The Bridge started as a self described “Much needed break” from the band environment. The album was originally intended to be a full length endeavor, but given the current climate in which music is consumed an EP seemed the more enticing route. The moodiness of opening track “Over The Edge” contrasts well to the sensitivity of acoustic ballad “My Other Side” and ear worm “I Have Imagined”. “Dear Child”, released ahead of the album, has been well received as dedication to children in his life, while “Flavor of the Day” is a salty dig at self victimhood. “Bridges”, a song of personal triumph, an ode to the future, ends the album in sweet mania.
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ROCK JOHNSON ONLINE
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Rock Johnson - http://www.rockjohnson.com

Chaos Theory - http://www.chaostheorymusic.com

Broke On Payday - http://www.brokeonpayday.ca

Low Cut Monday - http://www.lowcutmonday.ca

From All Sides - http://www.fromallsides.ca

Still In Stereo - http://www.reverbnation.com/stillinstereo

Max Fiasco - http://www.reverbnation.com/maxfiasco

Rock Johnson

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