Joshua P.
James and the Paper Planes - Please, Please (Independent)
Fans of vinyl – you know who you are – will surely be
excited to learn that “Please, Please” is available as a 12” LP, with an initial
pressing on lovely white vinyl. Glorious gatefold artwork is standard and every
copy comes with a free digital download card. For many reasons the choice
of primary format is wholly fitting, not least because much of Joshua P. James
and the Paper Planes’ debut album is utterly timeless. James and his band
(Brandon Woods: drums and vocals, Evan Harrison Parker: upright bass and
vocals. James plays guitar and sings) draw inspiration from classic rock ‘n’
roll, ‘60s folk-pop, ‘70s country-rock and plenty of things that came after.
They play with an innocent enthusiasm which I imagine makes them a hit on their
local Columbus, Ohio scene, and it’s to their credit that they make the
transfer to record so convincingly.
They hit the ground running with the jaunty, charming
“Haunt Your House”,
and it’s followed by the positively restrained “Prettiest Girl”, though its slow start and easy pace
showcase a song with serious hooks. Considering the instrumentation, their
sound is always fulsome, warm and inviting, so some acclaim is due to
co-producer Jay Alton, especially on tracks like “Run Like Fire” where they’ve all the appeal of an
acoustic Creedence, or the title track, with its loping bass line and James’
compelling vocal.
Rob F.
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