Umbrellas Are For Tourists: joshua radin

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Missing

... That's what Chris Holmes is from my music collection: (sort of) missing. Because he refuses to go corporate - the nerve of artistic integrity! - and whore the heck out of his EP, Get Yer Yum-Yum's Out! One must settle for buying individual songs off his MySpace, which I have shamelessly done.

Chris Holmes - China [mf]

Although not everyone will see fireworks when spinning this gem, something about it is relentlessly comforting. The quirky electronica paired with Chris's tranquil delivery is like turning on audio Xanax; my anxiety is instantly subdued without all the pesky withdrawal symptoms of Alprazolam. Chris is good friends with Josh Radin, which after you listen to this track, completely makes sense. Holmes produced Radin's 4-star (Rolling Stone) debut We Were Here, as well as his duet with indie darling/occasional actress Schuyler Fisk, "Paperweight" off The Last Kiss Soundtrack.

You won't find this one many places, so show it some love.

I take it all in instead of writing it down

Trying to find a way to get out of this town

Searching for contact

Waiting on the last act

Biding my time because I'll never be back

Hoping to find that I'm one of a kind

Willing to settle for some piece of mind

I'm gonna sail to China

Or move to Carolina

Find myself some peace

And take myself some time to fall

And I'll fall, And I'll fall

For the first pretty girl

I'll give her my heart and I'll make her my world

And we'll dance

All we live and all we are

And all our lives we're all unsure

All we do and all we see

And all we want and all we need

All we feel and all we know

And all we hide and all we show

All we take and all we give

And all we die and all we live

(Repeat)

Bonus Track: Beck - Missing [mf]

If you can't tell, I'm in love with the highlighted portion. Or maybe just relate too much. Book me a one-way ticket to Hong Kong.

P, L, and Yum-Yums,
LTK

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Josh is Back

Deep breath... at least for the girls... Joshua Radin has landed again. This time he's back with a four song EP called Unclear Sky. I went on iTunes at midnight to buy it, but it wasn't available (Thanks Apple for putting up Simple Plan and not something good) So instead I hopped on this morning and bought it. Here's my initial reaction.

I want to love his new material as deeply as I coveted We Were Here and subsequent live session, but the immediacy of affection wasn't there for Unclear Sky. Granted its only a four song teaser, but I didn't feel the same initial fascination with this release. The first songs "Sky" (featuring indie princess Ingrid Michaelson) and "Lovely Tonight" are more upbeat than I remember his previous tracks. The relaxing atmosphere created by Radin's debut, his simplistic instrumentation and low-key harmonies, are what sparked my initial obsession. The change of pace isn't a bad thing though, even if just for variety's sake. Especially since the electric guitar played on "Lovely Tonight" is done by none other than Ryan Adams!

I am glad to report, however, that the more I listen to Unclear Sky, the more I appreciate it. Especially in terms of Radin's artistic growth. I love "The Fear You Won't Fall," mostly because I've been rocking the live version for months now. The amazing Priscilla Ahn (i.e. "Dream") is responsible for the female vocals. This track is the most similar to his earlier material and has been featured on shows like (the now stupid) Grey's Anatomy.

A mock-up of Josh and Priscilla

My favorite song, even in demo form (or quite possibly because it is bare bones demo form) is the final track, "You've Got Growin Up to Do." A little more folksy than I've heard him before, Radin's heartfelt lyrics and poignant vocals are the star here. Josh says on his MySpace that "this song is going to have a very special female vocal added to it for the record verson but it's a surprise. but i can tell you, i can't believe she said yes. it's been a dream to work with this woman." Who do we think? Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor, Cat Power maybe? Okay the last one was a little stretch. Or was it?

All in all, I'm thoroughly enjoying the teaser; anything from Josh is worth the price tag on reputation alone. It helped me a little to hear Josh promise that he's saving the best songs for his full-length release, out later this summer. I'm loving Unclear Sky more as the day wears on, but just knowing there's a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow puts a smile on my face. And makes me hungry for Lucky Charms.

Joshua Radin - Sky ft. Ingrid Michaelson [mp3]

Joshua Radin - You've Got Growin Up to Do (Demo) [mp3]

Joshua Radin - Everything Will Be Alright (Will's Lullaby) (Live) [mp3]
My favorite from We Were Here

PS. Josh is on The Hotel Cafe Tour right now with Ingrid, Sara Bareilles, Cary Brothers, Eric Hutchinson, meiko, Priscilla Ahn, and many many others. The tour does come to California but Josh doesn't play that night (they have a rotating artist schedule).

Priscilla Ahn - Dream [mp3]

Upcoming Tour Dates for Josh (None in CA = Frown)

Upcoming Shows

( view all )

Feb 13 2008

8:00P

last call with carson daly

television

Feb 18 2008

7:00P

Reynolds Auditorium @ Duke University

Durham, North Carolina