The first time I heard Joshua James was last year at The Post Theatre at Fort Douglas. It was a scorching August day and the theater’s air conditioning was apparently not functioning. The audience was getting restless and tired until Joshua James came on stage. Next thing you know his soft voice, packed with soul, came pouring out from the stage and cooled the audience like a glass of ice water. Just him and his guitar played song after song without a whisper from the crowed, except the roaring applaud after each tune.
As soon as I could I bought his record titled “The Sun Is Always Brighter,” I was immediately refreshed again. Not only are the songs great and the lyrics eloquently versed, the sound quality of this record sets a new standard for local music in Utah. As each track played I was excited and inspired by the production. I could anticipate and feel where the drums were going to come in, what the guitars where going to do and where the song was going to go before it got there. Was it predictable? No. It was satisfying and very enjoyable. The musicians did not over play and what they did play was extremely tasteful. This is truly up there in quality with Ray Lamontagne’s “Till The Sun Turns Black.” Joshua and Ray share more then the word “sun” in common, they seem to be long lost brothers trying to find each other through creating a sub genera of soulful folk, both with raspy voices, emotional lyrics and soulful melodies.
Joshua James has an innate talent for telling stories without being cliché or too precise. The way he chooses his words allows the audience to connect the songs to their own personal stories and relate to the music, which in turn makes the songs more meaningful. I learned that his song “FM Radio” was about a childhood friend that lost her father but when he played that song last year at Fort Douglas there were many with tears and one person I know in particular, who’s father was absent, internalized that song like it was written for her. It is my opinion this is the most important quality to have as a songwriter, to be able to get a point across without saying too much.
Joshua James is currently on a national tour but stay posted as to what he is up to on his blog (buffalojames.blogspot.com). Also visit his website to purchase his remarkable record at www.joshuajames.tv
No comments:
Post a Comment