Josiah Wolf

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Josiah Wolf

Album: Jet Lag

Label: Anticon

Genre: Pop/Other

Comments: Anyone who knows me knows I name WHY? as one of my favorite bands (and rightfully so), so the release of Jet Lag by Josiah Wolf (a mutli-instrumentalist, but primarily the drummer for the group, also Yoni's brother) was terribly exciting. And I'm pleasantly justified in my expectations: sure, it's not the same as WHY? at all, but "Jet Lag" is a relaxing, if not slightly downbeat, record.

The record is essentially the outcome of the end of an 11-year relationship and a move from California back to the Midwest (where Josiah grew up). The heaviness on the record clearly has a reason, but luckily this works for Josiah--lyrically, he's best when he's meditating (rather than when he goes off a la Yoni into quirky lyric territory). His subject matter fits with his quiet, alt-pop sensibilities--it's quirky but not overbearing, gentle but not boring.

From the promoter: "Wolf's lean poems are set to an autumnal mix of warm folk and easy psychadelia played out (by Wolf alone) on guitar, vibes, kalimba, Hammond organ, bells, bass and drums to name a few. The end result is a sort of chamber pop minus the showy sweeps--virtuosity without the virtuoso--making "Jet Lag" as impressive in its subtle execution as it is a timeless, heartfelt listen". I'm pretty much in agreement (except for the "autumnal mix"--I'm excited to listen to this outside in the spring) with their assessment: the record really is quite worth many, many listens.