Customer Reviews

Simple Times

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Without a doubt, Joshua Radin is one of the most talented singer/songwriters. His lyrics speak to everyone and he sings them with such emotion you can't help but love every single song. There are some songs that are better than others but this is one of those cds you can listen to over and over again. Why he is not all over public radio I do not understand. His songs are featured all over tv and movies and each time they are used, they make the scene so much more powerful. He is truly amazing in person as well. He joined the crowd and did a small acoustic set with no microphone and although his voice seems very small he amazed me with the power his voice actual has. It is my opinion everyone should own every song and cd he ever puts out. If you truly love indie rock music, you will love Joshua Radin.

Considering the unfaltering continuity of Joshua Radin's first (first popular, albeit technically his second album) it is justifiably difficult for him to top his own work. "We Were Here" is a flawless CD. In comparison, Simple Times is sort of just that--simple. The tunes are good, but nothing stood out to me as addicting and compelling or any other specific feeling I might have craved after his other album. Having said that though, it's his iTunes versions of his songs that do it for me...the song versions many of us heard him play on tour and enjoyed via myspace. The tunes are altered and are not as wonderful on the CD, sadly. I highly recommend downloading via iTunes, rather than buying this version even as much as I hate to say it considering I've met the guy twice and he's a gem, but we're talking about the CD here and it is what it is...

Josh Radin's second offering, "Simple Times," improves on the semi-maudlin feeling of his first CD (We Were There). The music is more upbeat, more positive, and even has a bit of "swing" to it - at least some of the cuts. Definitely worth listening to, several times - the more I've listened, the more I've enjoyed! Hope you do, too!

I've probably purchased more than 50 CD's in the last 12 months and none have seen more spin time on my stereo than Joshua Radin's Simple Times. I look for great music with great production. This is spot on. Radin has nailed the genre. Slow emotional songs are mixed with fun romps like my fav "Vegetable Car". Whisper folk music like this can get tedious and depressing, but no so with Radin's music. Even the slow emotional tracks have a positive uplifting message. And this offering does not get weak as you approach the last few songs. To the contrary, "You've got growing up to do" is one of the highlights of the CD. And if you happen to be an audiophile, this CD's production is flawless. The backup singing done by Patty Griffin on track 9 is haunting and beautiful and maintains a wonderfully distinct separation from Radin's voice. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!

AS OLDER AARP AGE MUSIC LOVER WHO ENJOYS NEW ARTISTS, I AFFIRM THAT JOSHUA RADIN IS THE FINEST SONG-WRITER AND IN-PERSON PERFORMER I HAVE COME ACROSS IN YEARS. HIS TWO COLLECTIONS ARE MATURE AND SOPHISTICATED AND HAVE AN APPEAL ACROSS AGE BOUNDARIES. WHY HE IS NOT FILLING LARGE VENUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY (HE WILL---BELIEVE ME!!!!) AT THIS POINT MAY BE DUE TO THE NATION'S EMBRACE OF THE "AMERICAN IDOL" FOOLS RATHER THAN TRUE POETS AND COMPOSERS. EVERYBODY SHOULD OWN BOTH OF HIS RELEASES!!!

I rarely do reviews of CDs, because it's hard to rate something that is so unequivocally subjective. But "Simple Times" builds on Joshua Radin's success from "We Were Here" and is the first CD in a long time I have wanted to listen to over and over. His vocals are very smooth adding to lyrics that actually have meaning. The title track "Simple Times" is even really good with an upbeat Caribbean type feel. And he makes sure the album doesn't take itself too seriously with "Vegetable Car." Almost every song is catchy and is difficult to get out of your head...in a good way. The main difference between Simple Times and We Were Here is Josh seems much more comfortable and the melodies just have a optimistic outlook. It is a very impressive set of music from a talented artist.

I stumbled upon Joshua Radin's music randomly on the Catch and Release soundtrack. The track "what if you" is incredible, so I decided to take a chance and puchase two of his albums...was VERY pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed almost EVERY single track on BOTH albums...He has a smooth velvety voice which makes for great chill music. Trust me on this one....it's a great addition to any music collection:-)

The music is very calming and fun to listen to. I had never heard of Joshua Radin, but purchased it because of one of his songs on the Dear John soundtrack. I would purchase more of his CDs.

Joshua Radin has a great voice and his lyrics are heartfelt, romantic and sweet. I listen to it in my car all of the time and it always puts me in a good mood. The songs are short and there are only 11 total songs on the CD. It leaves you wanting more. Buy it and you will not regret it!

Joshua Radin is a sad kind of man. He has girlfriends, he breaks up with them, he gets depressed. Then he writes songs about them. "Simple Things" is heavy on the "Why'd you leave me" songs, sung in Radin's whispery voice. Every once in awhile he strikes back, like on "You've Got Growing Up to Do." Or he has fantasies about his perfect eco-friendly girlfriend, who drives a "Vegetable Car."

While I think this is all in good fun, I feel Radin is at his best when he reaches into his troubadour hat and pulls out something as stunning as "No Envy No Fear."

"Every day we try to find
Search our hearts and our minds
The place we used to call our home
Can't be found when we're alone
So have no envy and no fear."

It is at this moment when Radin hits the target and matches the people he seems to most admire (James Taylor or Bob Dylan). He isn't there yet, but like fellow soft rocker John Meyer, it may take him a few albums to reach it. "Simple Times" shows that kind of promise.

For fans of David Grey and Jason Mraz.