Joshua Bassett, Sad Songs In A Hotel Room | Album Review 💿

In Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, Joshua Bassett opens up about pain, sadness, and trauma, transforming his personal issues into a sweet, relatable musical soundtrack.

Some celebrities and musicians seem to get their fair share of negative attention.  🎙 Joshua Bassett has received backlash for various reasons, including his exes and his sexuality.  What’s far too often missed when speaking about Bassett is his talent.  Obviously, he’s achieved success as an actor, and musically, he’s gifted.  On his 2022 EP, 💿 Sad Songs In A Hotel Room opens up about his pain, sadness, and trauma.  He transforms his personal issues into a short but sweet musical soundtrack that should be relatable to many.  Perhaps the haters will continue to hate but Bassett should be proud of this EP.

“Sad Songs In A Hotel Room”

“How the hell we end up, where we did? / Don’t you think it’s messed up? It all went to shit.” That shit is the reason why 🤩 🎵 “Sad Songs In A Hotel Room” gets an explicit label.  It’s well worth it, of course, as Joshua Bassett is coping with heartbreak on this compound-duple metered opener.  Vocally, Bassett sounds beautiful even if he is, “Singin’ sad songs in a hotel room / … Where I once held you.” Beyond the relatable songwriting, the production shines, especially the guitar and the use of keys.  The harmonic progression, for you music theory nerds, is gorgeous too.  Safe to say, the title track sets the tone.

Sadness continues to pervade Bassett on 🎵 “LA.” “I just gotta get out of LA / I’ve been thinkin’ of runnin’ away,” he sings in the chorus, continuing, “I just gotta get out of this town / Lately everyone’s bringin’ me down.”  It wouldn’t be the first time someone has written and performed a song lamenting Los Angeles – it’s a tough place to thrive.  The chorus is certainly in line with many other songs that address the plight of the purported City of Angels. Bassett’s struggles and pains are our listening pleasure, as he continues to bless us with beautiful vocals and a tuneful melody. Also, the bridge section is sweet, successfully differentiating from the verses and chorus while maintaining tunefulness and Bassett’s strong pen (alongside 🎼 ✍ Dallas Caton).

The mood doesn’t end with “LA.” There are even more issues plaguing Joshua on 🤩 🎵 “Used To It.” “I’m not surprised you didn’t call / When I almost died, you didn’t care at all…” Oh, snap! This very personal line references Bassett’s health issues that he’s opened up about and cites an ex who didn’t even check on him.  Ultimately, in “Used To It,” he describes the miscues of his ex, yet seems to assert he was used to being treated the way he was, and this person also had a way to make him forget their wrongs.  “I blame it on us bein’ kids,” he sings in the chorus, adding, “I guess you had me convinced / It’s my mind that’s playin’ tricks.” Beyond the theme, the more contemporary production is a pro. I love the robust nature of the bass line, particularly during the bridge section.  Once again, this is a strong melodic statement, executed marvelously by Bassett.

“Smoke Slow”

“She asks for a light / As our secrets spill on the windowsill / We’re buying more time / while we kill ourselves as we both inhale.” Woo! 🤩 🎵 “Smoke Slow,” an advance single from Sad Songs In A Hotel Room, marks one of its best moments.  The record has a folksy, singer/songwriter vibe that suits Bassett perfectly.  He continues to deliver a well-rounded, impressive vocal performance, filled with sadness.  Even though the verses – particularly the first – keep things relatively simple and not too ornate, the chorus is fuller. As to be expected, the chorus is tuneful and quite memorable:

“But all that we are is all that we’ll ever be

‘Cause he’s the one waitin’ at home

She holds my guitar as I pluck out a melody

There’s only so far we can go

Next to you, but I’ll never be close

So, take your time while you’re mine

And smoke slow.”

Beyond the chorus, the bridge section is more rhythmic and edgy in this particular record. I love the contrast.

“Lately, I’ve been prayin’ / To a god I’ve never known / I can’t do this on my own.” That’s an incredibly heavy lyric.  🤩 🎵 “Lifeline” is a heavy song, depicting Bassett’s fear of dying following his health scare.  This song doesn’t dabble in relationship issues, contrasting records that precede it.  Here, Bassett references his mom coming to visit him and being fearful of dying. As to be expected from such a personal record, the songwriting is on-point – it’s poetically constructed.  Furthermore, Bassett sings with incredible authenticity – you believe him without a hitch.  Again, the centerpiece is the utterly sublime chorus, where Bassett asserts, “I won’t say goodbye just yet… don’t you know you’re my lifeline.”

Sad Songs In A Hotel Room concludes with 🎵 “All In Due Time.”  Let me just say, that Joshua Bassett falsetto is #giving.  Another compound duple record, “All In Due Time” finds Bassett seeking a better place – better circumstances in his life.  Rightfully, he sings, “But just cause it gets better, it don’t make it better right now.” True, but he also asserts, “And these scars’ll be stories I tell / All in due time.” It can’t always rain, can it? In due time, the bad experiences, bad memories, and trauma won’t hurt as much as they did or do now.  This is another incredibly relatable moment.

Final Thoughts 💭 

So much negativity seems to attach itself to Joshua Bassett which is a shame.  I can’t reiterate enough how much Bassett has to offer, especially in the music industry. He’s not only a good look face, but he writes great songs and possesses a radiant voice.  💿 Sad Songs In A Hotel Room won’t likely change his career trajectory, but it is a fine effort that transforms his pain, sadness, and trauma, a sweet, relatable musical soundtrack.  Don’t sleep on JB – he’s one to watch for sure.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Sad Songs In A Hotel Room,” “Used To It,” “Smoke Slow” & “Lifeline”

🎙 Joshua Bassett • 💿 Sad Songs In A Hotel Room • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 9.22.22

[📷: Warner]