josephhosey - The Devil I Know
Country, Adult Contemporary, Country Rock
Ohio, United States
Overall Impression: "The Devil I Know" is a folksy, down-to-earth ballad from Ohio based singer/songwriter josephhosey. Joe's weathered baritone is supported here by a minimal ensemble of strummed guitars, bass and shaker, while a gorgeous string arrangement provides vibrant color and expression, conveying both sweetness and sadness on this authentic love song that exposes both the light and the darkness that is inherent in most romantic relationships. The chord changes reflect that dichotomy, moving effortlessly from major to minor and allowing for a compelling melodic structure that should connect with a wide range of listeners. Folk and Americana enthusiasts in particular need to check out josephhosey's "The Devil I Know", available now as a single on all major streaming platforms.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, solid mix. Fantastic vibe on this song. it does an outstanding job of echoing the lyrical themes with the music, which is ultimately the goal of any songwriter, but very seldom achieved. Wonderful harmonic progression, very nice use of borrowed chords on the turnarounds. The strings really made this tune come alive for me, great job arranging and I love how they sit in the mix. I liked the sparse percussion element of what sounds like an egg shaker, drums of any sort would've most likely weighed this song down and been difficult to mix, particularly in the low mids. Terrific lyrical content, outstanding prose used to illustrate the dual nature of love. Should resonate strongly with listeners above a certain age. Nice ending as well. Overall, it's a great bit of song craft and a commendable production for a DiY job. Tremendous work on this one!
Target Audience Appeal: Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country, Americana, Alternative SInger/Songwriter, Alternative Folk, Adult Alternative
Artist target suggestions: Jason Isbell, Sturgil Simpson, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, The National, Rodney Crowell, Joe Henry, Freedy Johnston
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers