By Allison Lerman
No more wasting time burning CDs for the car ride home this Spring Break-the re-release of Josh Kelley’s debut album is a great collection of wistful songs for the open road. Appropriately titled For The Ride Home, this album perfectly blends laid-back melodies with the 23-year olds’ breathy voice.
Kelley’s songwriting started while at college at Oxford University in Mississippi. He even recorded some tracks himself, playing the instruments as well. After playing some local venues, he was discovered by a representative for Hollywood Records, and was signed in 2002.Hollywood Records, which is home to a broad range of artists from BBMAK to Hilary Duff, released Kelley’s album in 2003, and re-released it in 2004, adding in acoustic versions of “Amazing,” “Follow You” and a few others.
Working with producer John Alagia (Dave Matthews, John Mayer), Kelley was able to put together a 13-track album in less than a year, with “Amazing” being the first single off the debut album.
Kelley’s lyrics are mature throughout the disc. In “Travelin’,” he sings, “Tell me I didn’t miss anything traveling around in your head,” and in “Follow You,” he sings, “But isn’t it great how you rest inside my mind / Singin’ songs with broken lines / To clear me when I’m blind.”
It’s the track, “Everybody Wants You,” where Kelley really shines as an artist, however. He croons, “Did you lose your place? / Did you lose your grace? / Just so everyone could see your singing face.” The song was written as a personal reminder to always stay on track in the music industry. Kelley’s voice stays sultry and smooth throughout the song, giving an introspective feeling. The listener can almost see into his heart.
“Everybody Wants You” is scheduled to be the next single, which will be released in the next few weeks. Kelley is appearing on shows such as “American Dreams” and ‘Smallville” as well.
For The Ride Home is an overall upbeat and feel-good CD, almost all of the songs being single-worthy. Kelley should have no problem convincing us that he’s going to be around for at least a few more rides home.
