"On [their] third release, the 34-minute-long EP, [Reclinerland],...whose songs seem full of exact details, intimate melancholy, and poetic images,... paints genuine scenes of suburban living, the affects of divorce, and unrequited roommate lust." - The Portland Mercury

"Reclinerland is a very real place. It's most romantic when explored alone. It is one, big, beautiful moment, absolutely removed from this ridiculous era of Pink Martini Lexus commercials and pop star clones. I visit Reclinerland on off-days to remind myself the world is not entirely poisoned. Mike Johnson (Reclinerland himself) created his first solo album at Portland's now-extinct Oak Street Arts Center, painting a complete, emotional landscape with shy, urgent, idealistic strokes of singer/songwriter genius. His generous, unassuming vocals and rich acoustic compositions are seasoned with classical string arrangements and sweet, nostalgic melodies. Perhaps his audience at the cozy MeowMeow will again be inclined to drape themselves across the stage as they did at his last show in Portland (an emotionally-charged Hush Records reunion). As always, he'll leave us, this time to tour in support of a new record and return to The Big City. Yet parting is sweeter sorrow when we know there's more to come." - The Portland Mercury

"Damn good thing Reclinerland's Mike Johnson moved back to PDX after some time in NYC--his latest album gets underway with a track full of clever, made-in-Portland lyrics about bike riding and drive-through espresso stands. Would they have gotten it in Gotham? Who cares? Most of the EP's odd-numbered cuts are well-crafted acoustic pieces ˆ la Magnetic Fields or Beck in his early, serious pseudo-folk mode. The even-numbered ones are pure, plugged-in pop songs proving that "pop" doesn't need to mean musical or emotional simplicity. Johnson gets the happy/sad, boppy/brainy mix just right; you may find yourself tapping your toes and brooding over bittersweet memories simultaneously." - The Willamette Week

"...I wouldn't be so concerned if some of this stuff weren't excellent. "Time," despite its lackluster name, is a gorgeously-executed fingerpicked rumination on the past, and once "These Sorts of Dreams" builds up a decent head of steam, it knocks you flat on your ass. The man obviously has an ear for melody and arrangement. But "This Modern Man" is just a dumb, boring rock song - which came as a surprise, after the wry, Nick Drake-ian "Boulevard Street" - and there are TWO versions of the pointless, poorly-arranged "If I Was Your Father." Surely he came up to one of you at one point and told you that track eight on this album was going to be an acoustic version of its weakest song. Why didn't you say anything? Now I'm stuck reviewing an album I'd really like to recommend if half of it were cut out and thrown away. There's one-third of an excellent LP in here!...Friends don't let friends release half-terrible albums." - Dillusions Of Adequacy


"Rather than rehash myth, [Reclinerland] creates his own. Many of us can relate to workplace ardor as much if not more than truck stops, whiskey and motels. It's a lot harder to craft compelling poetry around the mundane than around pretentious cowboy daydreams. Mr. Johnson is a master. 'Meet Me Later In The File Room' is a superior blend of two ideas, a string quartet and a pop song, neither pretending to be anything but what it is and each complimenting one another immaculately. Beautiful unpretentious saying/singing vocals. Poetic broken sentences. Strong melody. Unusual and brave arrangement. I am so grateful to Mr. Johnson for not taking the easy road and adding the typical pop guitar, bass, drum blah. So many songs start fragile and heartfelt and, after the first lovely 15 seconds, resort to radio friendly drone. This song blossoms into something much more difficult. Reclinerland brings us American musings on the sleaze of Vegas, file room romance, Nabakov novels (Kubrick movies) and rusty abandoned shopping carts. Bookish boys and girls holed up in their apartments, working in offices, passions every inch as fiery as cowboys and bank robbers and barflies but voices and devotions not so damaged by liquor and trail dust. Check it out if you think you can relate." - Gods Of Music

"The CD preserves [Reclinerland's] honesty in some very melodic, lullaby-like songs that aren't too whiny-boy indie, and also explode occasionally into quick-riffed, speedier versions of the same feathery beats and sugar-infused lyrics." - Portland Mercury

"Reclinerland is a quirkily endearing listen." - Dilusions Of Adequacy

"'Eight' combines anger at wasted work days and people who get off elevators in slow motion, while the epic 'Pound Coins' is soaked to the bone in whiskey and a chorus of na-nas. Lyrically, the latter is stunning ('Thinking about pound coins/Spending them on cider/Peeling back the labels/Watching your big eyes') in its ability to make Blind Faith's 'Can't Find My Way Home' sentiment fresh again, and best displays Johnson's knack for evoking true-to-life detail (like being in a shower, messing with busted curtains). Unlike other indie artists, Johnson's voice is strong enough to attract a mainstream audience, but his 'pigeonhole-me-and-I'll-string-you-up-in-violins' attitude is likely most comfortable where it's at: in a world that should know his songs, but doesn't. While Johnson has said before (in 'Viva Portland') that he'd take a good love over 'hipsters and warehouses' any time, he'll definitely please all the hipsters with this top-notch gem." - Splendid E-zine.

"My campaign against mediocrity notwithstanding, can I say nice things about Reclinerland? Sure, I can (sidenote: I can also say nice things about Lifehouse). A pleasant listen, but pleasant is about as far as I'm willing to go with this one." - Pitchfork Media

"If [Reclinerland] wasn't so melodically mature, many of [their] songs would drown in self-indulgence, but [Johnson] offers too many beautifully crafted moments and elegant sweeps of acoustic and electric guitars to make us believe he is anything but a gifted singer/songwriter. There is a wide selection of songs to choose from, and many reveal new folds to his artistic personality." - CMJ New Music Report 

"...I'll take [Reclinerland's] version of Baby, You're A Rich man over the Beatles' version any day." - Indie pop Radio 

"...gorgeous, Beatle influenced pop." - Willamette Week 

"Reclinerland has some of the most brilliant acoustic guitar passages, pepper friendly with his signature finger picking and strumming styles. His music is profound in a 19th Century kind of way." - PSU Vanguard 

"Reclinerland doesn't seem poised to change the world, but it does seem like something you can kick back and enjoy. **1/2" - Oregonian A&E 

"There's a lot in Reclinerland to look forward to." - The Anodyne