Daniel Johnston - The Story Of An Artist

The media devil and Daniel Johnston

As the “outsider artist” with most crossover appeal, Daniel Johnston’s legacy is in a precarious position. As last year’s Feraltone reissue of 1989’s Continued Story/Hi, How Are You? evidenced, at his best, Johnston wrote emotional outpourings that dealt with the complexities of his mental instability, unrequited love (directed, as are many of this set’s songs, at Johnston’s high school obsession Laure Allen), religious fears/doubts and narcissism.

Kurt Cobain got snapped wearing a Hi, How Are You? T-shirt and things changed irrevocably; Johnston-mania took over among the “in crowd” and he became the outsider artist to name-drop… Indeed, only a year ago, overpriced hipster clothing chain Urban Outfitters sold replicas of said T-shirts, probably to punters more aware of the Cobain photo than Johnston’s work.

So, when faced with six CD transfers of early cassette-only albums recorded at home and given to anyone who’d listen, quality control has bolted. 1981’s Songs Of Pain is far and away the best and most focused, a template for others’ self-aware lo-fi recordings of the late 80s/early 90s. Of course, they weren’t entirely recorded for mass consumption at the time, but Johnston’s tireless efforts at handing the likes of Don’t Be Scared, The What Of Whom and More Songs Of Pain out around town ensured he kept his profile up. And maybe profile is key: though Story Of An Artist admirably keeps the flame alive, cramming everything (endless audio-verité included) into a lavish, lovingly-compiled box set is counter-productive. Only the most forgiving of ears would return to two CDs of Lost Recordings literally found beneath the bed years after their ’82-83 recording, while the truly standout material (Grievances, Never Relaxed, the title track, Peek-A-Boo) threatens to get engulfed in the tide.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Munster | MR CD 298 (6-CD)

Reviewed by Jason Draper
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