The first two albums selected for this project were random draws from the list, but one thing we agreed upon for this project was that when Vance Joy dropped his new album we would plug it in immediately. Is that because we are huge Vance Joy fanboys? Not quite, yet. But I was please to hear that the TBA deadline was sooner rather than later and when it was released in late February, our March selection was solidified.

Before this I didn’t know much about Vance Joy. I just knew that he sang that catchy little tune “Riptide” that my timid little ukulele student learned for the Middle School talent show. She got up there, rocked it out, and won! I was amazed. Since then I’ve learned Vance Joy is the stage name of Australian singer-songwriter James Keogh. James Keogh is exactly the artist you would expect having grown up in the Indie Folk revival of the late 2000s – early 2010s.

Again, I ordered the physical copy and I’m so glad I did. The handwritten lyrics and drawing inside the liner really add both depth and lightness to the album. On first listening I had two thoughts. First, there are some very strong, anthemic singles on this album. Second, see previous paragraph (Mumford & Sons, etc) lightened up with a little ukulele.

Thank God this album came out when it did. Aimee Mann in January and Ben Wendel in February absolutely emotionally wrecked me. This album was a welcome change. It was uplifting. Most of the songs are about a good relationship. Love. Most of the songs are in a triple meter giving it a floating feeling. The songs are short and concise. I needed all of those things.

By the second song, “Lay It On Me”, the first single released from the album, I was already planning my next move. There is a driving, syncopated, continuous guitar lick that I want to learn. It is soon joined by a horn line that reminded me of Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men (of Little Talks fame). It’s Triumphant in nature, which set the tone for the whole album. The third song, “We’re Going Home”, the third single released from the album – right before the album release, I thought was surely a hit if there ever was one.

The flow softens in the fourth song “Saturday Sun” with a ukulele number with a fun horn-like vocal background. “Take Your Time”, the fifth song is the perfect modern love song. It’s a cry we’ve all felt, a sentiment we’ve all wanted to express. It’s a wedding vow and a rib tattoo in the making.

The whole album is about a man in love. “Alone with Me” is another that really speaks to it. The ninth song, “Crashing Into You” gives us the only hint of previous darkness. The penultimate song “Bonnie and Clyde” focuses not on the duo, but on the sentiment of time. You never know when your last moment is. You never know when your last moment together is. You never know when you last good moment is. You never know.

This album is staying in my collection. As a minimalist, that should say a lot. Its overall uplifting spirit fills a void in my collection. I have plenty of angry, sad, and stark. I needed this one.

Up next, a respected former teacher’s selection: Sting – Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993)