Joshua Bassett, Joshua Bassett (EP) | Album Review 💿

Rising young actor and pop musician Joshua Bassett shows immense potential on his six-track, self-titled debut EP. 

When it comes to young actor/musicians, so much is made of the ‘pop culture’ aspect of their careers.  For actor and pop musician 🎙 Joshua Bassett, you could argue there’s more juice in the gossip and speculation about him and his relationships than his music.  That said, the focus should be on his music, particularly his promising, six-track debut EP, 💿 Joshua Bassett (EP). So, forget the juicy gossip and listen to/read this review with an open mind about this 20-year-old’s talent. There’s lots to like about Bassett, who writes or co-writes each of songs on this EP.

“Sorry” 

✅ 🎵 “Sorry” commences Joshua Bassett (EP) brilliantly. The aesthetic and vibe play a sizable role in this brilliance. The prominence of the piano within the production is a big selling point.  The backdrop overall is pretty sweet. Furthermore, the vocals by Bassett are simply radiant. I adore his tone.  Also solidifying the bop status of the opener is the rhythmic nature of the record, (specifically the chorus), the straightforward, easily accessible form (verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and eventually, the bridge), and the centerpiece – the chorus!

“You’ll be sorry that you left me
‘Cause I’m the best thing
That you aren’t ever gonna get again.”

The rhythmic nature of the guitar, coupled with the compound duple meter gives 🎵 “Do It All Again” a folk-pop vibe.  This suits Bassett well and also shows his versatility as an up-and-coming pop artist.  He sings expressively here, never over- nor under- singing. Additionally, there are some gorgeous production cues that further accentuate the sheer beauty of his voice. Yes, “Sorry” is more exciting, but “Do It All Again” is another strong, well-rounded moment for Bassett.

“Lie Lie Lie” 

“You’ve been lying to yourself / Lie to everyone else / Only thinking ‘bout yourself / Darling, what the hell?” Exactly! Bassett returns to overt pop on one of the surefire highlights of Joshua Bassett, ✅ 🎵 “Lie Lie Lie.”  The magnificence begins with those rhythmic guitars, which recall the pop of the late 90s and early aughts. It’s not merely the electrifying backdrop but also Bassett himself.  His vocals are on-point, balancing youthfulness and also attitude and feistiness.  My favorite lyric: “It won’t work this time, time, time, time, time / I’ll kiss your ass goodbye, bye, bye, bye, bye.” Word!

“And when did you stop bein’ kind? / You twisted your words like a knife…” ✅ 🎵 “Only a Matter of Time”, the crème de la crème of Joshua Bassett (EP) is a gorgeous if ‘troubled’ song. What shines most about “Only a Matter of Time” is the lofty musicianship exhibited.  In many ways, this is a simple record, focused more on the lyrics than the production.  That said, the production (Bassett and 🎛 Jake Gosling) is quite the selling point, particularly the prominent use of piano.  There are other sounds, but the rhythmic piano chords are the main driving force.

Vocally, Bassett sings radiantly, as he pours out his heart in his speculated response to “drivers license”.  He gives us middle and upper register, with his falsetto coming off quite sweet.  Of course, the biggest draw are the lyrics.  There’s nothing incredibly complex or otherworldly, just emotionally fueled, honest lyrics.  The chorus is the centerpiece, but the contrasting bridge just might be the most intriguing section. What’s not to like about this ballad?

“Telling Myself”

Phew, how does one follow up a bop like “Matter of Time?” It’s a tall task but speeding up the pace and adding more F-U-N to the mix works out soundly on 🎵 “Telling Myself.”  Besides a quick tempo, the listener is also blessed with sweet production work (those strings), catchy songwriting (that chorus), and continual vocal excellence from Bassett (his voice and looks are 💯).  Of course, what fuels the fire of “Telling Myself” is none other than that four-letter word known as L-O-V-E.

On the closing ballad, 🎵 “Heaven is You,” Bassett gets spiritual. Well, sort of.  He asserts, “Well, lately I’ve been questioning my faith / Just one look at you is all it really takes.”  Sigh, it all comes down to love, doesn’t it?  Once more, the potential served up by Joshua is big.  Again, he sings comfortably and confidently without dare forcing things.  That’s obvious with the ease he adds melisma on the titular lyric, specifically the “you.” Worth noting, he co-wrote “Heaven is You” with 🎙 Sabrina Carpenter.

Final Thoughts 💭 

So, how does Joshua Bassett (EP) stack up? This is a great sampling of potential greatness from Bassett. Sure, a lot is made about the ‘pop culture’ aspects of Bassett and his contemporaries (Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo), but that attention should be directed toward his talent.  This young star has a truly beautiful instrument.  Furthermore, him and his fellow writers definitely come up with some enjoyable songs, particularly the choruses.  This six-track EP is definitely worth checking out. 

✅ Gems 💎: “Sorry,” “Lie Lie Lie” & “Only a Matter of Time”  

🎙 Joshua Bassett • 💿 Joshua Bassett (EP) • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 3.21.21 

[📷: Warner]