Joshua Radin Does More Than Scratch the Surface with "Underwater"

Joshua Radin has been doing an excellent job mining the same sensitive singer-songwriter territory as John Mayer. That soft voice melts stoic hearts. The frank emotional honesty builds a reputation. "Underwater" is a nifty set of journeys into the most naked of subjects. It's hard not to smile at the earnestness of "The Greenest Grass". Bet you know someone or are the someone who knows of a girl who makes time seem to melt into the realm of the unimportant. I'm digging the shuffle steps of the percussion here. It lends itself well to the delicate contours of Joshua's voice. "Lost at Home" rings bells as a pensive rumination on being at home with yourself trying to solve the riddle of what your identity is. As the man sings "If you speak, do they hear?" The set isn't all tension wrought orchestral heft and fragility sent to the breaking point though. "Where You Belong" has that springing out of bed to greet the world likability that comes with knowing there's a special person in your life you can't wait to meet back up with. The guitar on this track promptly runs off to the races inside of the first two seconds. It's a welcome change-up from the introspection that tends to be the order of the day. If a man in touch with his feelings in a profound way touches you on some level then "Underwater" is one collection of music that will leave you not wanting to come up for air sooner than is necessary.