Bursting onto the music scene in 2013 with his smash-hit single, ‘Rip Tide’, Vance Joy has seeped his way into the collective conscience with his music being featured across the globe in advertising campaigns. This year sees him release his first studio album to follow up last years EP, God Loves You When You’re Dancing.
The album starts off slow and gradually picks up tempo as it progresses along.
Opening track ‘Winds of Change’ is a slow introduction to the album and a rather
short, simple track. The next few songs travel along at the same sleepy pace and it’s not until ’Rip Tide’ comes along that the album really starts to soar. ’Who am I’ has some great acoustic guitar and a very catchy chorus making it one of the stand out pieces of the album.
’Georgia’ is the highlight of the album; a sweet track that opens with a nice guitar intro. Joy takes his voice in a little different direction, taking it up an octave to make the song have an almost lullaby feel. It’s a sweet song of love and loss and stands out as the most impressive track on the album.
Closing the album with ‘My Kind Of Man’, Joy proves to listeners that he is an artist with depth and exceptional writing ability. He may have found fame with the intoxicatingly catchy ‘Rip Tide’ however he is able to prove with this album that there is more than meets the eye.
The album is semi-autobiographical and Joy takes us into his world. Themes of several of the songs are at times a touch sad, however Joy manages to make the album feel upbeat and enjoyable. It is the perfect Sunday drive album.
Reviewer: Amanda Starkey