If you go just by his music, Johnnie Lee Jordan sounds like he's from Kansas or Texas or Minnesota, maybe, somewhere with lots of open space and from an era that's more timeless than timely.
Jordan's latest EP, "With a Little Help From My Friends," reflects the Patchogue singer-songwriter's love of Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, along with a bit of The Replacements, but it also reflects his literary style of songwriting.
"I love music, but I also love literature," Jordan says. "I do try to write in a very literary vein. I try to write a story in the song that people can relate to, a story that kind of takes people to a different place."
He does that in "Tough Love," building an entire story line out of short, clipped descriptions. "Baby, you're a liar," he sings at the end of a litany of complaints, "but I'm a liar, too."<br> "I try not to subscribe to a certain sound," Jordan explains, adding that he also enjoys jazz, blues, folk, punk and hip-hop. "I try to let it all run its course when I write."<br> And it all does find a place in his music - well, except for the hip-hop, though that could change, too. "Pop Song" has a nice Replacements-ish swagger that sounds only more impressive when the complexities of the seething lyrics get added in, "Pop song? I hope this pop song makes me sound as phony as you," he sings.
Jordan, who turned 21 earlier this month, says he's in the middle of writing more songs he hopes to record and release as a full album on his own by the end of the year. But he's also planning as many shows as he can do, getting the word out about his music wherever he can.
"There are so many bands out there, it's really hard getting people out," he says. "People are so cautious about what they do, it's tough to let people know who you are or what you look like, what your music's about. You just have to keep getting out there and see who you connect with."
Jordan plays a free concert at Port Jefferson Free Library, 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson, 631- 473-0022, at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Johnnie Lee Jordan [MySpace]
PHOTO: Johnnie Lee Jordan