Back in January, Eric D. Johnson, best known for his work in Fruit Bats decided to sit down and write an album’s worth of songs over the course of a few weeks. Of course, until then, it was something he hadn’t done before.  With material written during an unseasonably cold Portland winter, Boonville, California (the heart of Calfironia wine and weed country) and Joshua Tree, the album is a decided change of sonic and lyrical direction for Johnson – the material is reportedly much more emotionally ambiguous and the lyrics are inspired by Johnson’s own thoughts and experiences. In fact, in the press notes for “Lose It All, All The Time,” Johnson admits that the songs are inspired by loss, disappointment, retreat but of perseverance – in particular, the first single is about the attempt to rebuild one’s life. But interestingly enough, the song sounds as though it could have easily been released during the days of AM rock but with modern flourishes.