B.A. Johnston - I Don't Know Who Needs to Hear This Right Now But They Are Never Coming Back and You Will Die Alone
Self Released
Released on June 18th, 2026
It’s rare to finish listening to an album and be left absolutely speechless. For some, this is an experience that comes only a handful of times, and for most it never does. After listening to B.A. Johnston’s newest release, I Don't Know Who Needs to Hear This Right Now But They Are Never Coming Back and You Will Die Alone, I can say that I am truly dumbfounded.
From what I’d read before going in, I had expected the album to be bizarre and experimental, but I find it both conventional yet bizarre beyond expression, and I mean this in the best of ways. This release is the definition of eclecticism. This 16-track tour through the mind of Johnston makes stops in the realms of punk music, 80s pop, ska, and indie folk, all the while maintaining a consistent humour without stepping over the line into comedy
Whether you’re a fan of mainstream bands like Tenacious D and Cake or more obscure musicians like Dan Bern and Arlo Guthrie, B.A. Johnston provides a surreal outlook on the world, focusing on minute details and intimacy in a way that feels incredibly creative yet grounded and real. With many tracks being packed with lyrics, it really showcases Johnston’s natural storytelling abilities and the way he is able to create worlds and situations with such detail.
Another thing I appreciate about this album is the marketing – you can purchase this sucker on cassette, CD, and vinyl. Best part? The digital album costs the same as a CD or cassette, and the vinyl only costs $20. I’m not trying to plug a product here, but you’ll be hard pressed to find anything that cheap anywhere but in a thrift store. I’m broke, but I’m considering ditching a steak one night to pick this sucker up.
My point is that this album is an absolute trip, and with its affordable cost, you’ll get more enjoyment out of an exploration into the world of B.A. Johnston than you will out of any 1/8th ounce you’ll find at your corner pot shop. Hell, try getting a better time from that one sketchy guy your buddy Rick knows. You won’t need it. All you need is some contemporary Canadian folk presented with a slightly sardonic outlook.
From the bitter diss track “Where the Raccoons Live” to the funky “It Can Be Hard to Close a Door”, each song on this album feels so inventive, but Johnston’s unique delivery keeps it all tied together in a way that makes each track feel like a part of a whole.
This album deserves to be in a museum one day. With an album cover featuring Bert Raccoon at Phillies diner, this is a part of what makes me proud to be a Canadian. Acoustic, a little odd, and unapologetically crass at times, I Don't Know Who Needs to Hear This Right Now But They Are Never Coming Back and You Will Die Alone will go down in my memory as one of the most impressive first listens I’ve ever had for an album in my life.
