Opening with what sounds like a bird call of some sort, on initial
listen, you might be a little bit bemused with this complex track. A
first timer might be curious about the seemingly anarchic choice of
mysterious lyrics, crashing guitars and what appears to be some sort of
war cry. But, give John Vento’s ‘America’ a few spins, and chances are
you’ll grow to love it. The truth is, ‘America’ is utterly fascinating.
This is ‘When The Saints Come Marching Home’, but not as we all know it.
It’s obvious that Vento feels strongly about something going on in
America, as he unapologetically sings “Hurricane thunder on a federal
freight train”, and compares “rich, fat aristocrats” and the “hungry and
poor”. As for what he thinks is going on in the country? You’ll have to
listen for yourself to find that out. Sonically, Vento’s raspy rock
voice, versatile background melodies, and combination of rich guitars
and tambourines make for a truly interesting listen. Not to mention the
inclusion of a “ha!” that comes in on every other bar, like a soldier’s
march. Ultimately, ‘America (When The Saints Come Marching Home)’ is a
spectacle, and, like all spectacles, it has to be seen (or in this case,
heard) to be believed.