Jon Lindsay

The ambitions of young-and-wild singer-songwriters can be a blessing and a curse. Unwilling or unable to sort through and self-edit the jumble of disjointed ideas in their heads, plenty of otherwise solid songsters—Conor Oberst and Beck, for starters—have obscured inventive tunes and true talent by turning their debuts into a hodgepodge of messy experimentation. Though Escape From Plaza-Midwood is the first full-length from 29-year-old Charlotte bandleader Jon Lindsay, it's hardly his first foray into music, which is apparent in the kaleidoscopic LP's remarkable cohesiveness.

A songwriter since age 3, Lindsay fronted power pop units Carlisle, The Young Sons and The Catch Fire and has performed or recorded with neo-soul crooner Benji Hughes, indie folk singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins and former bandmate Justin Williams' vintage pop project Twelve Thousand Armies. The shimmering, dreamy tunes on last year's self-released solo EP, Magic Winter & The Dirty South, hinted at Lindsay's savvy craft. But on Plaza-Midwood, Lindsay finally folds those myriad experiences into a sprawling opus of pop-rock splendor.

Other than the lush orchestration, rich textures and offbeat lyrical fragments, few threads tie these 15 eclectic tracks together. "Indie Prince Paul" is a Hughes-style, soul-pop number drenched in organ and synths, while Beach Boys-inspired harmonies, sputtering drumbeats, swinging horns and soaring solos splash the record elsewhere. "If I could rewind, I would storm your castle/ I would Bernie Makeoff with your heart today," Lindsay offers during the stream-of consciousness ramble that accompanies the nonchalant, string-abetted jangle of "These Are The End Times." It's clear that Lindsay is having a blast on this record, though never at the expense of the song.

To wit, it's not all smiles and winking lyricism. On the frenetic power pop anthem "My Blue Angels," Lindsay contemplates choosing the church of rock 'n' roll—complete with archangel Randy Rhoads—rather than following in the footsteps of his preacher father. The jazzy, piano-led ballad "I Take Care Of You Now" has a tender core of devotion amid its down-and-out love story.

Still, any record with mentions of Kato Kaelin, hoverboards, and a half-robot, half-cop girlfriend (all during one track, "Futuretown," mind you) will rightfully get pegged as quirky. But where in lesser hands Plaza-Midwood would come off as a mishmash of half-baked ideas, Lindsay's approach makes this diverse pop collection mesh. - Indy Week

"On this album – his debut – Lindsay demonstrates that he doesn’t care about being hip and cool, all he cares about is the music. And how! The fifteen songs on his impressive debut not only display a wide range of classic pop and rock inspirations but in addition, reek of the blood, sweat and tears of a songwriter who gives a damn! I know when I’ve run across a keeper, it takes me a couple of listens to get into the head space of an album – so to speak. The songs are simple, the melodies are memorable and the words are clever, you know, like early Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Grandaddy, Weezer and Fountains of Wayne. Pointless to highlight any particular song as every single one hits the sweet spot. You know there’ll be a tune, lyric or arrangement that makes me go – “Wow! Cool!” – and I hit repeat again when the album ends. Yes, boys and girls, Escape From Plaza-Midwood is one of those complete album experiences that we’re getting less and less of in recent times. Hold on tight and don’t let go, babes…"

- Power of Pop

Lindsay's folkish side comes off like a less depressed Elliott Smith, but it’s his wondrous pop sensibilities, which have drawn comparisons to pop rockers old and modern (from Warren Zevon and Elvis Costello to Guided By Voices and Rufus Wainwright) that have the critics going ga-ga over his work. And why not? As if it wasn’t already evident given his prior history, Jon Lindsay proves on Escape From Plaza-Midwood he was born to rock, and in his own clever, creative and dynamic ways. Be sure to pick up a copy of his debut record when it comes out later this month, as you’ll be spinning it a great while.

- BlogCritics

Multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Jon Lindsay has spent the better part of his career working with bands and artists such as the Young Sons, the Catch Fire, Carlisle, Benji Hughes, Nicole Atkins and many more. At long last, he’s set to release his official solo debut, Escape From Plaza-Midwood, on August 17 via Chocolate Lab Records. (A limited-edition seven-inch, Coping Strategies, will be out the same day.) It was worth the wait, as we can’t get the jaunty and instrumentally rich “Frequent Flyer,” which premieres today on magnetmagazine.com, out of our heads. - Magnet Magazine

What Sufjan Stevens did for Chicago, Jon Lindsay just might pull off for Charlotte. Two weeks before his Visulite show, Lindsay’s releasing his second studio album, Escape from Plaza-Midwood (that’s our boy!). Even though he was born in Portland, Oregon, Lindsay’s indie folk sound is now from the Q.C., for the Q.C. - Charlotte Magazine

Lindsay treads somewhere between the Beatles’ sweeter pop side, the dramatic cabaret of Rufus Wainwright, and the full-band folk-rock of Ben Kweller - Charlotte Observer

Judging by his 5-song solo EP, Jon Lindsay's tenure as Benji Hughes' keys player is paying songwriting dividends. It's a familiar refrain from those who've worked with Hughes and praise his exacting craftsmanship. "The Sideman" continues that disc's [Lindsay's former band The Young Sons] power-pop vibe, Teenage Fanclub being a worthy reference point. But things take a SoCal turn with the minor-key twang and stacked vocals of "Not Trying", Topanga Canyon summer pop re-imagined by The Shins, as well as the Spector/Beach Boys textures of "Ryan on the Runway". Yet it's "Red Dawn Soon" that plays like an exile from Hughes' "A Love Extreme", Patrick Swayze and Charlie Manson name-dropped amid the burbling synths and keyboards of an unstoppable melody. - Shuffle Magazine

Timeless all-analog indie-pop, self-recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina by one of the most exciting artists we've seen come out of the burgeoning southeastern lo-fi revival scene. - Paste Magazine

Jon Lindsay has no shortage of artistic credibility. He continues to entice with this ["My Blue Angels" single] lo-fi, country-twisted tale of understated elegance and left-of-center wit that's already earned comparisons to Rufus Wainwright.

- WalletPop