Johnny Berlin - music discography, tracklists and where to start listening
Discography at a glance
| Release | Year | Format | Tracks / length | Sound in one line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Find What You Love and Let It Kill You | 2008 | Album | 11 tracks / ~41 min | More raw and punchy: indie rock with post-punk drive |
| Sid Meier (Sure Thing) | 2011 | Single | 1 track / ~3 min | Clean, hook-first statement track (tight groove + synth lift) |
| Hyber Nation | 2012 | Album | 11 tracks / ~40 min | Most polished era: wider synth palette, cleaner dynamics |
Start here (pick your entry point)
Don’t overthink it. Choose one path depending on what you want:
- Want the cleanest “final form” sound: play Hyber Nation front-to-back.
- Want earlier energy and sharper edges: start with Find What You Love and Let It Kill You.
- Want a 3-minute proof of what the band is: play Sid Meier (Sure Thing).
| If you like… | Play this first | Because… |
|---|---|---|
| tight post-punk rhythm + modern indie production | Hyber Nation | clean mix, clear hooks, synth and guitars fully integrated |
| rawer “band room” feel and direct impact | Find What You Love and Let It Kill You | more bite, less polish, faster “hit-and-run” songwriting |
| one track that sums it up | Sid Meier (Sure Thing) | immediate chorus payoff and tight arrangement |
Listen (streaming embeds)
Hyber Nation (2012) - full album
Listen on Spotify: Hyber Nation (Spotify)
Find What You Love and Let It Kill You (2008) - full album
Listen on Spotify: Find What You Love and Let It Kill You (Spotify)
Featured track video: “Sid Meier (Sure Thing)”
The 2011 single that later appears on Hyber Nation. Fast entry point if you don’t want to commit to a full album. Watch on YouTube: Johnny Berlin - Sid Meier (Sure Thing)
Hyber Nation (2012): tracklist + what the record does best
Hyber Nation is the “most finished” Johnny Berlin album: 11 tracks around the 40-minute mark. The production is clean, the synths are not background wallpaper, and the songs are structured for momentum: verse tension, chorus release, no wasted bars.
| # | Track | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Living Again | Sets the tone: tight groove, immediate forward motion |
| 2 | Vive l’Afrique | Shows the band’s upbeat pulse without turning soft |
| 3 | A Neve | Clean “new wave + indie rock” blend; strong chorus lift |
| 4 | Give Me the Night | Night-drive energy; synth color sits right on the hook |
| 5 | Wasjuwami | Rhythm-first track that keeps tension moving |
| 6 | Sid Meier (Sure Thing) | Hook statement: short, tight, designed to stick |
| 7 | Charming Chernobyl | Darker atmosphere; bigger “cinematic” dynamics |
| 8 | Heart of Oak | Guitar/synth balance at its best; strong mid-album anchor |
| 9 | Shoreline | More open, spacious feel without losing tempo |
| 10 | Julie Says | Shorter cut that resets pacing before the closer |
| 11 | A Long Time | Wrap-up track that leans into mood and resolution |
Best use-case: if you want one album that represents the band without “demo energy”, this is it. If you care about arrangement detail (synth lines, vocal harmony stacks, clean transitions), Hyber Nation is the record.
Find What You Love and Let It Kill You (2008): tracklist + why fans still rate it
The 2008 debut is more direct and slightly rougher in feel. That’s a feature, not a bug: the record hits quickly, pushes tempo, and leans harder on post-punk urgency. It’s also the best place to hear the band before later-era polish.
| # | Track | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Platform One | 1:04 |
| 2 | We Still Want Money | 2:09 |
| 3 | JB & The Negative Skyline | 3:30 |
| 4 | Bender Parts | 2:21 |
| 5 | Dirty Tackles | 5:37 |
| 6 | Jenny C | 3:19 |
| 7 | Four | 5:23 |
| 8 | Echoes | 4:59 |
| 9 | Upper Middle Class | 3:10 |
| 10 | Minus Eden | 3:43 |
| 11 | Find What You Love & Let It Kill You | 8:16 |
Best use-case: if you want the band’s earlier edge and longer, more “band-performance” structures, this is the album. It’s also useful if you’re comparing eras: you can hear how the songwriting moved from raw urgency (2008) to cleaner synthesis and polish (2012).
2011 single: “Sid Meier (Sure Thing)” (credits snapshot)
The single is credited to the Renner brothers for music/text and produced by Jo Francken. It’s also the easiest “share track”: short runtime, strong hook, and a title that people remember.
| Field | Credit |
|---|---|
| Title | Sid Meier (Sure Thing) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Music / lyrics | Laurens Renner, Paul Renner |
| Producer | Jo Francken |
| Format | Promo CD single (listed on chart/metadata databases) |
Hyber Nation vs. Find What You Love… (straight comparison)
| Aspect | Find What You Love… (2008) | Hyber Nation (2012) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall feel | rawer, more direct | cleaner, more “finished” |
| Hook delivery | more “band-energy” than polish | hooks framed by a modern mix and synth lift |
| Synth role | supporting color | integrated melodic driver |
| Best for | fans of punchy indie/post-punk momentum | fans of indie rock with atmosphere + clarity |