Josh Thompson has had a few breaks, but at the same time has suffered a sincere lack of them. He signed with Columbia Nashville in 2009, releasing the top 10 album ‘Way Out Here’ the following year alongside two top 20 hits and a top 30 single. He began work on his follow-up record and sent a single to radio that hovered on the cusp of the top 30, but before he could release the rest of the album he parted ways with his label. A year later, in 2012, Josh signed with independent Show Dog Universal, and recorded a brand new album – technically his third, but only his second to be released. That went top 10 but to date has only sold 25,000 copies (a top 30 and top 50 single accompanied it), and a label re-shuffle in late 2014/early 2015 meant Josh ended up independent again. He could now release the forgotten material he recorded under his first label, so he partnered with ole music and decided to do just that.
The result is a pair of EPs, the first of which hit stores last Friday (October 9), and the second of which is due some time in 2016. I always found Josh Thompson’s music to be solid mainstream country with a blue collar, honky-tonkin’ spirit, and in that way ‘Change: The Lost Record, Volume One’ does not disappoint. For example, ‘Work In The Mornin’’ is a great party tune that acts like bro-country never happened, recalling the bar-stomping modern country of the mid-2000s. At the same time ‘Livin’ Like Hank’ does something similar, evoking the Hank reference everyone is desperate to use but being one of the few to use it authentically. There’s a bit of a Dierks Bentley vibe here, and it’s almost a shame Dierks isn’t actually on the track as I think it would have sounded great. Instead Justin Moore guests, and although I’ve never been much of a fan of his voice he sounds much more at home here than on the faux-rock he got stuck releasing to radio during his last album era. Altogether it is flattering for both artists, and a bit of country fun.
Josh reminds us just who he is on the EP’s opener ‘Same Ol’ Plain Ol’ Me’, a great little foot-tapper that follows a classic narrative of how he’s still the same simple country dude he used to be. However, while other artists make the theme tired and cliché, Josh’s version feels genuine and not remotely contrived. Things slow down for the title track ‘Change’, a sweet tune about how everything changes and yet nothing changes at all, picking up examples in old men complaining about rock ‘n’ roll and old women frowning at girls hiking their skirts up. The narrative could be applied to the changes in country music and criticism of the new styles, but Josh is sure to keep things ambiguous and any connections are at best tenuous.
But it wouldn’t be blue collar country without a solid dose of heartbreak, and again Josh delivers. ‘Got To Go To Heaven’ is a gorgeous ballad leaning on the guidance of pedal steel, telling the sorry tale of someone who keeps drinking after losing a loved one, but worrying that he won’t be able to join them in Heaven if he carries on drinking. The track merges with gospel towards the end, featuring a full choir that don’t take over the track completely but are present enough to really give it that flavor. It reminds me of Love and Theft’s ‘Whiskey On My Breath’ in several ways, and it would be cool to see these guys teaming up on something. Then there’s ‘Over Me’, a rockin’ mid-tempo track with plenty of twang, and a clever twist that muses on the things a girl is doing to get over the narrator – but one thing she’ll never do is get over him. Country is known for its smart wordplay, and this song is no exception.
If you’re a fan of Josh Thompson, this EP will not disappoint you. If you’re just a fan of modern country (excluding the mess of the last few years), then it’s definitely worth checking out too, as it’s hard to imagine what he could improve. This is quite simply enjoyable, simple but well-written and well-sung country music, and it’s a shame that his independent status will prevent a radio hit from emerging out of this record. I’m looking forward to the second EP next year, but for now I’ll keep spinning this one.
Originally posted here.
