There are few things that make me happier than finding a great song – something so good I almost laugh to myself while I listen to it. Of course, finding an entire album that good is even more of a rush.
The latest what-a-rush album in my life is Josh Fix’s Free At Last. The song that drew me in was the super-fabulous “Don’t Call Me In The Morning”, but the whole album is fantastic. Josh is clearly a guy who was influenced by Queen. Soaring harmonies, layers of sound – so yummy. There’s also a strong Elton John feel to some of it, particularly on “Jethro” and “Burn It Down”. “Rolled In From The South” sounds like Elton teamed with the Little River Band. If you had told me Rufus Wainwright had written “Free At Last” I would totally have believed you. With all the piano there are bound to be Ben Folds comparisons too, and while I like Ben well enough, I like Free At Last way better than any Ben Folds I’ve ever heard.
The album is amazing enough, but get this:
With the exception of the drums, every vocal and vocal harmony, every bass line, every guitar solo, every classical piano run, percussion groove, soundscape, drum loop, handclap, footstomp, glockenspiel, shaker and cowbell(!) – everything is – JOSH FIX.
Fix might be a genius. Go listen.
A huge thanks to Hopelessly Pop for the introduction.
