Jonathan Richman: Only Frozen Sky Anyway [Album Review]

Jonathan Richman
Only Frozen Sky Anyway
Blue Arrow Records [2025]

“Jonathan Richman keeps his creative streak alive, letting charm and spontaneity lead the way.”

Album Overview: Jonathan Richman has always stayed true to himself, following his muse wherever it happens to take him. There’s a consistent through-line that spans his early records with proto-punk pioneers The Modern Lovers, his cult classic albums of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and into his 21st century work, but trying to define it is like trying to nail water to a cloud—child-like innocence? Unfiltered creativity? Off-the-cuff spontaneity? All of the above and more allow Richman to connect with audiences unlike almost any other performer (if you have the opportunity to see him live, don’t miss it!). On his 18th studio album, Richman continues to chase his unique creative vision across twelve new tracks, with longtime collaborators Tommy Larkins and Jerry Harrison (the latter of The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads fame) in tow.

Musical Style: Richman’s music often features influences from unexpected genres, but he’s always been heavily influenced by the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, Latin rhythms, and bubblegum pop. In Richman’s world simpler is usually better, an approach that is doubtlessly informed by his love for The Velvet Underground. He’s not afraid to take chances, though, occasionally singing in different languages, improvising lyrics on the spot, and dipping his toes into unexpected musical pools.

Evolution of Sound: Only Frozen Sky Anyway is fairly typical of Richman’s recent work. The basic template is built around the core of Richman’s acoustic guitar strumming and Larkins’ dependable drumming, with Harrison adding keyboard parts and backing vocalists chiming in from time to time. It’s a simple formula that works because Richman’s charisma is the real star of the show (as it always has been).

Artists with Similar Fire: Richman is often cited as one of the godfathers of punk, and while the deceptive simplicity of his music makes it easy to draw comparisons to The Ramones, The Stooges, or the aforementioned Velvets, Richman’s approach is much less aggressive than those acts. There’s an exuberance and joy you’d be hard-pressed to find in Lou Reed’s or Iggy Pop’s work, but the straightforward approach is something they all have in common to some degree. Outside of the punk world, though, it would be difficult to find an earnest singer-songwriter type that wasn’t influenced by Richman in some way, whether consciously or not.

Pivotal Tracks: There’s a slight lull in the middle of the album, but luckily Only Frozen Sky Anyway is bookended by some terrific tracks. Opener “I Was Just A Piece Of Frozen Sky” features hand percussion and some evocative synth work backing Richman’s guitar strums and mantra-like vocals, while “But We Might Try Weird Stuff” has a loose, spontaneous feel, with Richman trading lines with a group of gospel-style backing vocalists. “That Older Girl” is an instant classic, a wistful tune in the vein of “Summer Feeling,” which is followed by “O Guitar,” an ode to the instrument’s creative possibilities. There’s also “David & Goliath,” which is exactly what it says on the tin: a retelling of the biblical tale, told as only Jonathan Richman could. 

Lyrical Strength: Richman’s honest, unvarnished lyrics are always a big part of his music’s appeal, and he’s firing on all cylinders on Only Frozen Sky Anyway. There are meditations on mortality, tributes to the creative process, and incisive social commentary, side-by-side with songs about bats and an homage to The Bee Gees’ disco phase.

Final Groove: If you’ve heard The Modern Lovers or I, Jonathan but haven’t checked-in on what Richman has been doing in a while, Only Frozen Sky Anyway is a perfect place to jump back in. It’s not markedly better than his string of other recent albums like SA! or Want To Visit My Inner House?, but it’s a consistently fun listen that documents a one-of-kind artist doing what he loves. New listeners might want to investigate some of his earlier classics first, but longtime Richman fans will find Only Frozen Sky Anyway a very worthwhile addition to his catalogue.

JONATHAN RICHMAN LINKS
Website | Bandcamp | Blue Arrow Records