MP3 Justin Boss - the.ist

the.ist is an exploration of faith and doubt that spans genres including mellow piano driven pop, experimental ambiance, and emotional guitar driven rock.

8 MP3 Songs in this album (39:21) !
Related styles: ROCK: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, POP: Delicate

People who are interested in John Frusciante Mike Patton Laura Veirs should consider this download.


Details:
FROM THE BOLLARD (September 2008)

Want to know how to impress a jaded music critic? Follow Justin Bossâ example.

First, write a thoughtful letter praising the criticâs publication (Youâre welcome, Justin!) and explaining how your album came to be. Note that the album was intended to be written, recorded and mixed within one monthâs time, and admit that you almost met that goal. Point out that all the songs deal with an atheistâs critique of organized religion, and give yourself credit for designing and assembling the CD sleeve and hand-stitching the little lyric booklet enclosed.

Secondly, and most importantly, fill the CD with gorgeous pop ballads and catchy rock songs that get better with each listen.

Thatâs what Boss did, and this is the review that results.

The.Ist is fantastic. Boss, who recently moved to Maine from the other Portland, is a major talent. He can sing, he can write great hooks, and he can apparently play pretty much any instrument he gets his mitts on.

The opener, âPure Land,â is a thing of beauty, a ballad anchored in piano, with lush vocal harmonies, some subtle tape manipulation and a nifty little guitar solo. The next track, âThe Ascetic,â turns whatever expectations you had after hearing âPure Landâ upside down. It rumbles and rocks, boasting a chorus youâd expect to hear on a Faith No More album (no pun intended).

The atheism theme is handled deftly, wrapped in poetic lyrics like those that open âPure Landâ: âItâs all simple somehow / The clouds give way to light / And itâs bright / But itâs nothing.â This theme occasionally leads to arresting lyrics like âThereâs blood in your wine / Or so Iâve been told,â from âEucharist,â or âHere is my blood/ shedding for you / now give me your tongue,â from âThe Silent Deed.â

Other highlights among the eight tracks here: the alternately strutting and sighing rocker âDouble J;â the Frank Blackish âSilent Deed;â and (speaking of the Pixies) âIf Man Is Five,â an indie-rock nugget that wouldnât sound out of place on a Cult Maze album. The.Ist ends with another gorgeous ballad, the melancholy âSeaweeds & Jellies.â

This album ainât perfect â several songs could be shorter, like âTwilight,â which should lose its entire two-minute, tape-blip outro â but itâs damn close. Itâs exciting to contemplate the album Boss could make given two monthsâ¦


â Chris Busby