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Joshua James: Sparse Folk-Rock

Following his critically acclaimed debut album, The Sun Is Always Brighter, Joshua James has released a new batch of intriguing folk-rock tunes. Though the 25-year-old singer-songwriter has been writing songs for only six years, his music exudes wisdom: The 13 tracks on Build Me This expertly weave together themes of spirituality, love and music. As on his debut album, he often turns to sparse and moody atmospherics to draw out the drama.

But there's more to be said about the albu'ms progression into electrified hard-rock territory. James has clearly expanded his style to include elements of world music and Southern rock. Between the fusion of folk-rock styles and his intimate vocals, James is frequently compared to the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

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