Music Review: Josh Ramsay’s Debut Album ‘The Josh Ramsay Show’

The title of The Josh Ramsay Show evokes an old-fashioned TV variety show, and for good reason. The album plays like a variety show, on which the Canadian singer showcases his ability to perform a wide assortment of genres. Seriously, this guy switches up genres like Lady Gaga changes stage outfits. Throughout the album’s 18 tracks, he takes the listener on a musical excursion from rock to swing to country to modern pop and beyond. There are even a few cinematic instrumental interludes to punctuate the track list.

Any misgivings about the album’s corny cover art (easily the worst thing about the record) are quickly swept away upon hearing Josh’s swaggering snarl on “Lady Mine,” a Southern-fried rocker that kicks the record off in rollicking fashion. The man has pipes, no question there, and can adapt as needed to the particular genre he’s performing.

Blame It On The Beat gets into the swing of things, while Best of Me goes full pop country. We don’t get to the first (and inevitable) full-on pop song until track 5 with You & I, which would fit right in on any contemporary radio station (as would the dancefloor ditty Perfect Mistake). The Nirvana-esque Painted Faces adds a hard alt-rock flavor to the mix, while Like You Do brings a smooth Motown ballad vibe, and Beat The Devil plays like a less hard-hitting Sledgehammer.

Eschewing a homogenous sound for this potpourri of genres is a risky move—by embracing a multitude of styles, Josh risks not having his own signature sound. However, you have to respect the effort, especially since he pulls off it with such grace. The only stumble perhaps is in the production: While the record sounds fantastic, not every genre he dabbles in calls for such slick production (Painted Faces, for instance). Nevertheless, if you tend toward the poppy-er side of the spectrum and enjoy a variety of styles, The Josh Ramsay Show may be one worth watching.

The Josh Ramsay Show hits record store shelves tomorrow, April 8, 2022.