Would you like some cheese to go with that Iron & Wine? If so, Joshua Radin will be more than happy to oblige. Arriving two years after his Zach Braff-endorsed debut We Were Here, the all-too-aptly titled Simple Times doesn’t appear to have moved too far away from wherever Here was. Like that album, it’s another inoffensive, uninspiring set of indistinguishable love songs that range from subtle to slight to saccharine. 
Maybe I’m being too hard on him. After all, there are more than a few hints of actual potential scattered throughout this effort. “Vegetable Car†is a valiant stab at tongue-in-cheek that proves Radin capable of genuine wit with a little more practice, while “You’ve Got Some Growin’ Up to Do†– in spite of its unintentionally self-deprecating title – is a charming duet with Patty Griffin. Griffin’s participation, as well as contributions from several other female singers (Schuyler Fisk, Meiko, Erin McCarley) elsewhere on the album, evokes a more willowy Rilo Kiley, and makes it all the more frustrating that Radin’s potential peeking through the blandness is never fully realized.
Instead, listeners are treated to the same whispery folk platitudes of countless Jason Mraz doppelgangers before him. Then there are songs like “Sky†that can’t even be bothered to reproduce those, coasting by on clichéd choruses of “Oh oh’s†and “Ah ah’s.†Radin clearly knows his way around an acoustic guitar, and has a suitably sweet voice for the material, but his singing often straddles a thin-to-the-point-of-non-existent line between soft and soporific, almost as if he has a harder time believing the sincerity of his songs than we do.
Simple Times should not have to call for simple music. After all, love is many things, but seldom if ever simple. The sooner that Jason… I mean Joshua realizes this, the better his future output will be.
Tracklisting:
01. One Of Those Days
02. I’d Rather Be With You
03. Sky
04. Friend Like You
05. Brand New Day
06. They Bring Me To You
07. Vegetable
08. Free Of Me
09. You Got Growin’ Up To Do
10. We Are Okay
11. No Envy No Fear
Joshua Radin: website | myspace
Written by: Rob Huff
You are insane…Joshua Radin is absolutely amazing and this album is my new favorite – I cannot stop listening to it. You don’t know what you’re talking about….
Hmm…not sure there’s anything wrong with ’simple songs’, Mr. Huff. Perhaps you need a Prog Rock Sabbatical? “Sky” is the best song on this album by far. It’s made me do some research and find more music by the song’s muse, Ms. Meiko. http://www.myspace.com/meiko – have a listen – but beware Robby – some oft he songs are simple!!
See, I also rather like this album. I think it might be better than his previous cut, and I think it is far more honest. I found very few flaws with it.
And Emily, I love Meiko. We have an interview with her in a few weeks. Nick and I caught her at Hotel Cafe, and she won our hearts. She’s charming and vulgar. I love that.
uninspiring? what are you on? this album gets me out of bed in the morning. “maybe” you’re being too hard on him? “Definitely” is more like it – get some ears!
What can I say? What gets one person out of bed is liable to put another one to sleep.
Different tastes, my friends…
Absolutely. I think it was a fantastic album even though it’s not what Radin fans necessarily want to read.
Just like Radins last album this album is fantastic. I’m so glad that he didn’t change his style and that we get more of the same kind of music as we did in the ‘we were here’ album. Radin is amazing at singing, playing the guitar, & writing his lyrics. I also feel he sounds nothing like Jason Mraz, nor is his style anywhere similar.
I saw meiko at the hotel cafe tour over this last summer & she is amazing. love her. her album is awesome. If you enjoy her you might also like Allie Moss, Priscilla Ahn, & Ingrid Michaelson.
RSHuff – I have to agree with you that different people have different taste. I love Joshua’s music & am thankful Zach Braff turned him into a musician.
Dont understand why you dont like these songs. yes there simple but whats wrong with that there much harder to play than anything done by any other bands at the moment i.e. killers and such like. And the fingerpicking is quite difficult when singing to.
Okey, HAHA, Well everyone is entitled to their own oppinion but c’mon. Joshuas music is awesome, both his albums are awesome.
He is so much better than Jason Mraz btw, Jason has on good song… That’s a little to few.
I’m pretty sure Schuyler Fisk didn’t contribute to this album (except as a muse, since half of the songs are about her…). And I suppose you can group Radin and Jason Mraz together because they both play acoustic guitar (as do countless other musicians), but Mraz’s pop to folk ratio is a lot greater than Radin’s (as in, Mraz is much more pop than Radin, and Radin is much more folk than Mraz). I’m more likely to compare Radin to Ray LaMontagne. They have the same vocals that are good to fall asleep to.
Complex is not always better, by the way. There are so many musicians who try to make complex music that just turns out to be a hot, unpleasant mess.
He is a brilliant artist, just because you don’t appreciate it doesn’t mean you bash it senselessly. And that’s what this is, a senseless bashing. BLAND? Jesus did you even listen to the CD? Even better see the man live. He is a mind blowing performer. You may consider yourself a music critic, but this pure gibberish with no substance for your disapproval to stand on. Try a new career.
Hey everyone, get off Joshua Radin’s dick for once. He produces insipid, saccharine fluff that ALL SOUNDS THE SAME. As for being a “brilliant artist” I’m sure anyone who has A. basic knowledge of how to play the acoustic guitar and B. experience in a bad relationship can produce something close to the shit that he pushes… BUT DON’T FORGET THE WHISPER VOICE. Please, spare yourselves the agony of listening to one of his albums and go support some real music. It’s okay, even all of you Radin-philes can someday have good taste in music. Someday, somehow…