Cargo Records

Rejected Unknown (Reissue)

Johnston has battled for 20 years with recurrent mental illness, and these songs bear the scars.

Daniel has spent the last 20 or so years exposing his heartrending tales of unrequited love, cosmic mishaps, and existential torment to an ever-growing international cult audience. Initiates, including a healthy number of discerning musicians and critics, have hailed him as an American original in the style of bluesman Robert Johnson and country legend Hank Williams. A growing number of artists - among them Yo La Tengo, Sonic Boom, former Velvet Underground drummer Mo Tucker and even Johnny Depp! - have covered Daniel's songs. He's also collaborated with the likes of Jad Fair, the Butthole Surfers, Kramer, and members of Sonic Youth. Daniel gained wide public exposure at the 1992 MTV Music Awards, when Kurt Cobain (who constantly touted Daniel in interviews) wore Johnston's 'Hi How Are You?' T-shirt. In 2002, Mojo magazine included Rejected Unknown in their '1000 Ultimate CD Guide', in which Joe Cushley wrote, "You won't hear a more poignant, raw and (curiously) humorous album all year. The epic Funeral Girl begins quietly - Johnston in fractured Neil Young mode - before erupting into skronky bubblegum pop. Finally, Johnston seems on the verge of weeping, as the music drifts into dissonance. It's heart-rending. On Devinare, Johnston recalls another confederate, Lou Reed, while Favourite Darling Girl rings with skewed on-beat echoes of his his beloved Beatles. Producer Brian Beattie deserves great credit for keeping this naif-rock show on the road. Johnston may not write or sing "properly", but he has heart and instinctive talent in abundance"