Lost in the rough? Well here is your diamond.
5
By Jasonguit
Remember when albums actually went somewhere, taking you on a sonic adventure rather than serving up two good songs wrapped in 45 minutes of mediocrity? Wester Joseph’s debut album is a throwback to those more adventurous days, and for me personally it was a breath of fresh air.
Ranging from space rock to funk to soul to blues with brilliant touches of singer-songwriter influence, the album doesn’t stay in one place for very long all while maintaining a definite sound and feel that keeps everything coherent despite the playful jumping between genres. Listening through, one will find hints of Jimi Hendrix, Ben Harper, Stevie Wonder, the Wall Flowers, Warren Haynes, and slew of other influences mingling together to create an aural experience that both pays homage to the past but not at the expense of presenting something that feels fresh and new. While Joseph doesn’t shy away from his influences, at no point are you left feeling, “Well, this is very good… but I already own three albums that sound like this!”
I think the whole album is definitely worth the price of admission, but if I were to pick highlights, here are four:
*Let It Ride – An awesome, up-tempo, rocker that really showcases Joseph’s unique tone and great feel for lead work.
*Last Call – I guess being a gigging musician myself for years, this laid-back ode to the bar scene is particularly touching to me.
*The Storm – A seriously heartfelt ballad that builds to a wonderfully emotional climax. Really showcases some fantastic background vocals by Joseph’s backing band as well.
*Down the Road – Another fantastic blues ballad featuring some great slide work.
Do yourself a favor a pick this one up if any of the above sounds interesting. You won't be disappointed!
