URL: http://thejoshphillips.com/
Josh Phillips’ EP release, New Beginnings, reflects the ever growing influence of contemporary country on modern mainstream music. Phillips hasn’t donned a cowboy hat or slathers his songwriting with hollow concessions to tradition, but he exploits the genre’s soft-pedaled melodies and doe-eyed balladry with confidence. The EP’s six tracks are a little sedate and certainly don’t challenge any conventions, but it’s difficult to not be impressed with Phillips’ melodic knack. His lyrical content, thankfully, traffics in cliché only when it has universal resonance for his audience – he never targets specific demographics with this release and, instead, seems to have crafted every aspect with an eye towards widespread appeal.
The first song, “Completely Out of You”, is the album’s closest thing to an outright rocker, but never quite follows through. Phillips keeps things decidedly non-strident – the guitars are focused on filling out the sound and never assert themselves. The rhythm section gives the opener its edge and sets an appealing tempo while Phillips delivers a stirring, lightly soulful vocal. “Steal Me Away” is another of the EP’s finer efforts. Phillips opts for a stripped back, much more stylized approach here than the radio-friendly posing of the opener. The lyrics have a darker shade as well and the obvious care Phillips takes with his phrasing illustrates his commitment to the song. Phillips pares things back even closer to the bone on “A New Tomorrow”, but even the exquisitely sensitive musical arrangement can’t distract from Phillips’ best vocal turn on the album. This is a singer obviously devoted to his craft and the evidence, as on earlier tracks, is apparent in his deliberate, yet deeply felt phrasing.
“Leave in Love” relies on another lyrical melody and continues a streak of acoustic-based songs, but it’s equally rich in hard-won wisdom and plainspoken poetry sure to strike chords with many listeners. “Inspired” introduces piano to New Beginnings’ sonic palette and easily rivals “A New Tomorrow” as the EP’s finest musical moment. Phillips rips into the lyrics with the zeal of a great R&B singer and grains his sultry tone with some rough sandpaper for added emotional effect. The knockout blow of New Beginning’s concluding one-two punch is “No Sleep Tonight”, a surprising hit of rollicking blues that never aspires to radio play, embraces a totally retro vibe, and sparkles with moments of laugh-out loud humor. While it covers serious subject matter in a much more playful way, “No Sleep Tonight” is the EP’s real sleeper and shows off a wildly entertaining side to Phillips not hinted at on the preceding five tracks.
New Beginnings isn’t going to challenge definitions of what constitutes modern AOR or pop country music, but it isn’t attempting to. There’s a surprising amount of diversity present that isn’t apparent on first listens and the album is remarkably durable, improving with each additional spin. Josh Phillips’ potential is unquestioned and any flaws on his latest EP are inconsequential to its overall value.
9 out of 10 stars.
Lance Wright
