BC of the Month, February 2007: Tom Johnson

The purpose of this monthly series is to highlight an outstanding contributor to the site as chosen by the editorial staff. This designation is meant to recognize and celebrate  those writers who not only shine by virtue of their talent, but whose ongoing participation gives all of us a reason to tune in each and every day. As new readers are continually discovering BC Magazine, we also hope to introduce these fine writers to a new audience.

If you're a frequent visitor to the music section here at BC, Tom Johnson's name will be familiar to you. A contributor for the past four years, Tom brings to his work a winning combination of passion, encyclopedic knowledge, and humor, all presented in his down-to-earth style. All of these qualities work in concert to make Tom a must-read for anyone who takes their music seriously (or just enjoys a good read).

His regular column, Overlooked Alternatives, is a great place to find those hidden gems that might otherwise escape your notice. BC publisher Eric Olsen offered this insight about Tom: "Tom Johnson has an intimate and passionate relationship with a wide, eclectic array of music that has generated some of the most important and enduring music writing on the site. We missed him terribly when he was away having babies and whatnot."

The folks who run the music section waxed eloquent when asked to describe Tom. According to music editor Connie Phillips, "Tom Johnson's articles add so much to the music section. Whether he's giving us a peek at something obscure in his Overlooked Alternatives feature, giving us a more in-depth look at a specific album in a music review, or telling us the latest tidbit in music news, he does so with a candid honesty and an enjoyable style." Assistant music editor DJRadiohead said, "Tom is unquestionably one of the best reads BC Magazine's music section has to offer. There are some music critics who seem as though they don't like music at all. Tom's style is refreshing in that he brings the knowledge of a student, sans the stuffiness, and the passion of a fan, but with some objectivity and insight. He writes like an everyman, but makes us seem a whole lot smarter (even if he does like John Mayer)."

Tom's fellow music writer Mark Saleski put it this way:

One of the things that drove me to write about music was passion. To me, music is not just another form of entertainment, it's food. That may seem like a crazy statement, but to some of us, music is just as important as food, drink, and love. Heck, sometimes it's all of those things.

Tom Johnson has always felt like a kindred spirit in this. His passion for music is evident in his writing. Whether it be "his band" (Rush), "shocking" pop music choices (John Mayer), or the crazed angularity of modern improvised music (Nels Cline), it obvious that this stuff is important to Tom. His writing never fails to put that sense of the wonder of discovery on full display — a sense that most people lose as they move into adulthood. The world needs more of these kinds of voices: free of cynicism and driven by the desire for new sounds.

Article Author: Lisa McKay

Lisa McKay is Blogcritics' Executive Editor. At BC she can usually be found hanging out in the film section. She recently started food blogging at Will Kill for Food.

In her spare time, she watches movies, listens to music, reads, and caters to the whims of two spoiled cats. …

Visit Lisa McKay's author page — Lisa McKay's Blog