Joshua Bassett, Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP) | Album Review 💿

While constant noise seems to plague him, Joshua Bassett shines through nonetheless on Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP).

“M

y label said to never have a crisis / And here I am, guitar in my hand, in the middle of one, hmm.”  Oh, the power of honesty and vulnerability! 🎙 Joshua Bassett has been through ‘the ringer’ you might say – he gets ample negative press.  The thing is, the actor/singer is quite talented, yet, so much buzz centers around his past relationship with 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo and, before coming out, speculation regarding sexuality.  Personally, I wish more people would appreciate his talent, something he exhibits throughout his three-song EP, 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP).

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“Crisis” 

Opener ✅ 🎵 “Crisis” serves as the centerpiece of 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP) – it’s the main attraction.  The record was by Bassett, 🎼✍ Derrick Southerland, and 🎼✍ Mikey Reaves with Reaves working behind the boards as well.  The sound is a tasty blend of folk-pop, singer/songwriter, and, well, standard pop.  In three minutes, Bassett allows himself to be vulnerable, revisiting a past relationship/break-up (likely Rodrigo).  From the start, he serves up beautiful, compelling, emotional, and honest vocals, clearly affected by the aftermath of the relationship and perceptions of others.  He doesn’t hold back on the pre-chorus, singing, “And if you get to tell your truth, then so do I / And it’s cool if you want me to play the bad guy.” Woo! Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, where Bassett manages to slip in a timely s-bomb:

“But don’t you dare act like I didn’t love you
Don’t go thinkin’ that I didn’t hurt, too
Don’t you ever wonder if I’m okay after all you put me through
Half the shit you’re saying’s only half-true
Messin’ with my life as a career move
I can’t help but wonder why you won’t make it end
Guess you would never dare
You would never dare to waste a crisis.”

Again, I say, WOO! Ultimately, Bassett delivers an enjoyable, honest, and well-rounded record on “Crisis” regardless how you feel about him.

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“Secret” 

“You had me tricked for sixteen months / Oh, your smoke and mirrors had me hypnotized.”  Joshua Bassett remains candid on 🎵 “Secret,” the grooviest and most fun record from 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP).  Even though the tempo is quicker than the two songs it’s sandwiched between, “Secret” is set in a minor key and still finds Bassett bothered.  Like 🎵 “Crisis” before it, Bassett continues to (or seems to) reference his relationship with Rodrigo.  Of course, he never explicitly names her, but clearly, whoever the former flame he mentions is, there’s 🎵 “Bad Blood”.  “When ‘Woe is me’ stops working / I bet your songs won’t sound the same.” Oh snap! Nonetheless, Bassett emphasizes the fact, “Your secret’s safe with me.” Of course, isn’t he sort of airing out the dirty laundry to us, the listeners? Regardless, “Secret” is a blast – well-written (Bassett, 🎼✍ Davis Naish, and 🎼✍ Katelyn Tarver), well-produced (Naish), and passionately sung.

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“Set Me Free”

“I’ve been runnin’ away, I’ve been facin’ my fears / Tell my momma I’m okay while I’m holding back tears / It’s been a fuckin’ year.” Indeed! Bassett showcases his gift superbly on ✅ 🎵 “Set Me Free”, the closing ballad from 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP).  His honesty and vulnerability are something to behold. The incident that Bassett references in the excerpted lyrics revolve around drama involving Rodrigo (again), also, perhaps, the health issues he’s experienced contribute to the negative connotation of “It’s been a fuckin’ year” as well.  Still, most of “Set Me Free” deals with a sense of imprisonment.  “And nothing I say will ease the pain,” he sings on the pre-chorus, continuing, “But why do I have to hurt for you to feel okay?” It makes me sad reading and hearing such lines from Bassett because he is young, talented, and has plenty to offer.  The best part of this ballad is the soaring chorus, which is simply beautiful:

“You don’t get to take all of me (Set me free)
And I don’t need your apology (Let me be)
I don’t recognize you, not anymore
You’re not the love that I feel for
You don’t get to take all of me (Set me free).”

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Final Thoughts 💭

Everyone is entitled to their opinions.  Even though I have no dog in the fight, I get tired of hearing the Joshua Bassett bashing. I’m most interested in his music as opposed to the other ‘noise’ surrounding him as well as him and Olivia Rodrigo. From a musical perspective, Bassett delivers an enjoyable, honest, and well-rounded project with 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP). No, the pop game hasn’t been flipped on its side or anything like that, but Bassett does a nice job of expressing himself on these three songs.  It sounds like he needed to get things off his chest after a difficult year.  Underrated, I hope Bassett gets a fair shake musically because, he is worth listening to.

✅ Gems 💎: “Crisis” & “Set Me Free”

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🎙 Joshua Bassett • 💿 Crisis / Secret / Set Me Free (EP) • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2021
[📷: Warner]

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