Review: Joshua Ketchmark “The Ignited” [EP]

Rock

Rounding out a trio of EPs released this year, modern rocker Joshua Ketchmark delivers “The Ignited,” October 30th. Not to slight the other two excellent EPs (reviewed here), but it seems Ketchmark has saved the best for last. These four tunes all have bite and grab at your attention span greedily, exuding a commercial appeal that ranks them as some of the more radio-friendly songs he’s written to date. With help from Davey Julson Rieley (Kill Hannah, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Costello) as producer and engineer, along with engineer Jeremy Hatcher (The Used, Black Veil Brides), “The Ignited” is a sonic treat.

The perspective of this record comes from a man that’s been hurt and heartbroken. “The Ignited” begins with the rousing track, “About To Break” – an instant anthem sure to get your blood pumping. The break-up song “Fallen” easily glides into Foo Fighters-territory and is likely to become my favorite in the bunch. The markedly darker tone of the gritty “Hurt” provides a good example of the contrasts Ketchmark is skilled with juggling. Be sure to wait for the chilling note he holds 2/3’s of the way through. He concludes with “Without You”, the first single. One of the more ambitious songs in the Ketchmark catalogue, “Without You” attempts to merge moody verses with a more accessible chorus. A decent track, but not the best one here in my opinion.

Be sure to get the song “Without You” for FREE over at his web site right now! Recommended for fans of Foo Fighters, Hinder, and Paramore.

Joshua Ketchmark – Official site.

Review: Joshua Ketchmark “Dreamers Disease” [EP]

Rock

“Dreamers Disease” is the second release within a series of three EPs being completed by modern rocker Joshua Ketchmark. “Dreamers Disease”, dropping July 17, exudes more of an alternative country-rock feel, underscored by the Nashville flavored track, “Should Have Been”. The EP was recorded at 1 Tree Studio in Nashville and features appearances from Nashville players such as Tony Paoletta (Pedal Steal; Dixie Chicks, Travis Tritt) and Dave Webb (Bass; Randall Bramblett, Sugarland). Inspired by short-lived romances and fervid moments when your childhood crashes head first into adulthood, “the Dreamers Disease” aims to capture the attention of youthful dreamers and hopeful wanderers alike.

The first single, "Saving Grace" is a summer anthem begging to be played on your next road trip. “Saving Grace” is laced with Bon Jovi influences, sounding like a leftover track from their “Lost Highway” sessions. “Mason Jar” is not as accessible in the melody department, but is a potent riff-oriented rocker in the style of Lenny Kravitz. As mentioned, “Should Have Been” is the song with the most overt country influence and this mid-tempo treat has a very satisfying hook. “Step Back” closes this EP with a breezy ballad that begins with some gentle strumming before expanding into an emotive epic.

Joshua Ketchmark – Official site.

Review: Joshua Ketchmark “The Bittersweet” [EP]

Modern rock
Joshua Ketchmark is a promising young modern rock and pop artist making his return with a new trifecta of three EPs. The first, due April 17, is called “The Bittersweet” and features four new songs that showcase Ketchmark’s eclectic musical influences. The EP was produced by long-time friend Denny Smith (fORMER/The Great Affairs) and Michael Saint-Leon (George Thorogood, Buddy Guy). The team is a sonic success whether producing emotive balladry or a crushing rocker.

"Covered in Roses" gets things off on a positive note, sounding like a song that would have fit comfortably on his winning debut record, “List of Regrets” (reviewed here). "All These Eyes" is the first single, which has some good lyrics and sounds radio-friendly enough, but gets a little cumbersome with its slow pace. "The Take" triumphantly storms back onto more solid, rocky ground, and is one of the most satisfyingly aggressive Ketchmark songs I’ve heard. On the closing piano-based ballad, "Cigarettes and Wine", Ketchmark is back with his heart on his sleeve, turning in a fantastically earnest vocal, one that has a high probability of inducing chills.

Joshua Ketchmark – Official site.

Review: Joshua Ketchmark “Karus Cruentus” [EP]

Late in 2009, we found ourselves truly impressed with the debut album from Illinois rocker Joshua Ketchmark (review here). Once again, he is ready to launch another release at the start of the New Year – his new EP, “Karus Cruentus” drops January 11, 2011.

What made his debut, “List Of Regrets”, work so well is the basic rock formula followed by Ketchmark. His tunes were full of crunchy guitar and fat hooks that made you want to instantly sing along. Unfortunately, he seems to have largely thrown this formula to the wind with the five new songs on this EP. I was not attracted to any of them with the immediacy I experienced last year listening to “List Of Regrets”. This time around, Ketchmark has recruited producer Andrew Ackland (Eagles, Bravery) to the project, and the team aimed to produce a “very live feel” to the recording. While that is an admirable aim and would probably work for an artist as talented as Ketchmark, it is the mediocre songs that make the EP a failure.

I’ve gotten conflicting information on what the first single is – one states the first single is “Breakdown”, a dreary composition that is a serious miscalculation, and the other states it is “Absent Savior”, a much better choice but still forgettable song. The only saving grace on “Karus Cruentus” comes at the end with “C’mon C’mon”, an upbeat rocker that somewhat restored my faith in this guy’s potential. To take the next step up, I encourage Ketchmark to take two steps back and deliver another record with the melodies and hooks of “List Of Regrets”. Ketchmark also needs better harmonies and more of them to augment his average vocals.

Joshua Ketchmark on MySpace. Official site.

Here is a video preview of the new EP:

Review: Joshua Ketchmark "List Of Regrets"

Illinois native Joshua Ketchmark has recently released an impressive debut that happens to be the "soundtrack to his life...it very well could be the soundtrack to yours". Music is at the heart of Ketchmark's existence; as an only child, a guitar served as his surrogate sibling. Before long he found himself in Nashville, honing his songwriting chops and picking up more instruments along the way. By incorporating himself into the fabric of musician's society, he soon found himself working as a guitar tech, providing opportunities to rub elbows with producer extraordinaire Rob Cavallo, Johnny Lang, and Melissa Etheridge. In fact, Etheridge let him use her signature 12-string guitar to record his debut record, which is the first thing you hear in the Byrds-like riff on the excellent "How 2 Let Go".

All Ketchmark's tunes follow the formula we love: quiet but engaging versus that erupt into a catchy arena-ready chorus. As you would expect from a "soundtrack to life", Ketchmark touches on familiar themes of romance, but also explores feelings of loss (of his father in "On Your Shoulders") and finding happiness in the wrong place (the eerie and mysterious "Now"). Overall, the production is great and the vocals are well done (would have enjoyed more pronounced harmonies, though).

"List Of Regrets" will satisfy fans of The Calling, Lifehouse, or 2000-era Goo Goo Dolls. What a great way to start off 2010! Ketchmark has delivered a remarkable debut and I look forward to hearing this artist grow into a superstar.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10

Joshua Ketchmark on MySpace. Official site.

Check out the video for "Everything":