With Chris Nordlinger manning the lead guitar, a patchwork of balladic bliss is born in “The Lesson,” one of the more emotional works to be enjoyed on Brooke Josephson’s new EP Showin’ Up. Nordlinger’s connection with Josephson forms some of the more evocative harmonies in all of the record, but don’t think the magic stops there – from the spellbinding slow rhythm of the verses in “The Lesson” to more assertive, alternative rock-inspired swinging in “Rainbow,” there’s plenty of spellbinding detail to be enjoyed here. Showin’ Up presents us with a narrative of togetherness in moments of complete isolation, and although this has been a common theme in the pop of the last few years, it feels wholly organic when offered up as provocatively as it is in this release.
“If I hang up my cape, let you see my real strength / Is givin’ all I have till all I have is myself to save,” Josephson croons in “Hangin’ Up My Cape,” her poeticisms blending with the sterling quality of the arrangement all too flawlessly. You could make the argument that it’s hard to tell which came first, the lyrics or the music, but this doesn’t feel like a drawback in the grander scheme of things; for this singer/songwriter, the greatest mood is created through cohesion rather than by focusing on one element in the mix over the others. This is a good demonstration of her aesthetical hybridity, but it’s also a showcase of her development since dropping her debut some nine years ago.
The overall production quality here is something to marvel at, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from the credits list in Showin’ Up. Recorded at Southern Ground Nashville under the supervision of award-winning engineer Brendan Dekora, who mixed the record, there’s no debating whether or not there was a lot of time and effort put into even the smallest of details in tracks like “Love Me Like a Man (Extended)” and “Don’t Say,” the latter of which might be the most complete song that Josephson has recorded to date. Frills don’t make the EP, but the polish that’s afforded to this material is something that immediately grabs us and ensures we’re going to stick with the tracklist for its total duration.
A mainstream-level effort from an indie vocalist who deserves a lot more of the spotlight, Showin’ Up is a boon to Brooke Josephson’s career as well as to those who appreciate a simple pop melody. There are a lot of different elements at work here, from the subtle Americana referenced in the concept for the instrumentation to the outright alternative rock guitars that penetrate even the most sublimely straightforward beats in the EP, but at no point does Showin’ Up feel overambitious. Simply put, it’s a good look for Brooke Josephson and one that says we’re still going to see plenty of surprises out of her camp as she continues to develop her signature sound. I’m a fan, and I don’t believe I’m the only critic impressed by this latest statement piece.
Chadwick Easton