My first impression of Josh is a distinct one. If someone did this to John Mayer or Darius Rucker, and told him to grow a pair, I expect he’d sound more like Josh Flagg. The charging chords and bar room shout “Seeing Red” sets the stage for this energetic guitar pop album. Flagg adds the right amount of snarl to “Bring Me Back To Life” and the dueling guitar leads make it an effective single about a love-lorn zombie.
The album pulls no punches and sounds more like Dave Grohl on the title track, with its fast tempo and layered guitars. The clever hooks in the arena ready “256” draw the listener in and can make even a non-power-pop fan take notice, with its rock riffs building to an echoing chorus. Lots to like here without filler and even the slower tunes like “Don’t Wake Me” recall Paul Westerberg’s lonely guitar ballads. And if you’d like some extra power in your pop – it’s there in “Whatever Turns You On.” Josh lists The Posies and Superdrag as main influences here and I can say fans of those bands would be pretty pleased with this album. Multiple listens are also recommended to really appreciate the subtleties on each track. It’s a great debut for your weekend.
