Joe Garner
Alternative Rock
RIYL: Jason Mraz / Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop / John Mayer
From time to time, it is nice to stumble upon a record that spreads a smile across your face. It is darn near impossible for one to avoid a Cheshire grin when listening to Joe Garner’s 2. Some songs carry a Jason Mraz panache, while others convey longing with acoustic tones akin to Iron & Wine (Sam Beam).
Commencing with “Feelings,” Garner strums his guitar with a lackadaisical tone. There is an immediate likability to the cadence of the song that carries a soft groove perfect for a late winter day. This mood carries through to each song thereafter. Track three, “Splinter” is a short, but cool little ditty, paired with splashy cymbal hits, and fuzzed out guitar tones. The abrasiveness, paired with Garner proves to be a great sonic marriage.
The light, airy guitar tone carries throughout the entirety of the record, and when paired with keys Garner brings this self-produced record to the next level. Vocally, Garner carries a boy-next-door quality to his delivery. This is not a bad thing though. Instead, it makes his music all the more accessible to the pedestrian listener. There’s a certain charm that exists there, especially on tracks like “For What It’s Worth,” and “Homewreckers.”
Lyrically, there is a sense of story behind each song – with Garner’s personality shining through with each word and phrase. Aptly so, as this is seemingly a very personal record. Perhaps that is why it is so ear-catching in the first place.
Ultimately, if you are looking for a refreshing lyric that isn’t drenched in over production, Garner’s 2 just might be for you. He’s a strong songwriter and there was not a song I skipped throughout the entirety of the record. Great tunes.
