Josh Mitcham: Nobody Asked For This
Singer-Songwriter Josh Mitcham, best known for his work with his former band, Jericho Woods, which sadly broke up in 2021, has set about working on his first solo project that seeks to solidify his style and move into the next phase of his career. The new album is titled Nobody Asked For This.
The album was recorded in the 100-year-old barn on his family farm, with help from friends like Josh Rinkel (Po Ramblin Boys), Aaron Biblehauser (Wolfpen Branch), Anna Blanton (Colter Wall, Jericho Woods), Aaryn Martin, Will Johnston (Elvie Shane, Jericho Woods) and cousin Paul Priest.
Unlike the more upbeat and fun style that typified the majority of Jericho Woods songs, Nobody Asked For This has a more serious feel in both tone and subject matter. And this, definitely, isn’t a bad thing as it demonstrates his maturing growth as a songwriter. Another interesting aspect about this album is that, sonically, it’s like a double release. Along the same lines as what Cody Jinks did back in 2019 with “After The Fire” and “The Wanting,” but instead, Josh does it on one album. The new album has 11 tracks that, by the way they are laid out, gives this record nearly two distinct sides. The "A" side has a decidedly country feel while the "B" side is considerably more rock-oriented. But the two sides, while different, are not so disparate, that there is a sharp or distinct cut. The songs on the country “A” side are ordered in a way that the transition is nearly seamless.
The album opens with "Between This Bottle and You," a traditional country-feeling post-breakup song which is also the only single to be released to date. This piece is a somber soul-searching tone with some great pedal steel enhancing, but not overwhelming the song.
This gets followed by "Till Monday Rolls Around," a song about feeling stuck where you are in life. It opens with some strong lyrics:
"It's been a Monday of a Tuesday and Wednesday's lookin' rough / Thursday, I might stay in bed"
This one is a touch faster, but not so much so that it loses the feel of its lyrics. But if you have ever felt stuck in life and need to find a way to get out of your rut, and really who hasn’t, you should easily be able to relate to this tune.
Something that hit me about the chorus, part of which you read above, lists all the days of the week, in the same way, and is repetitive. Now that isn’t surprising for a chorus, but in listing all the days of the week, over and over gives it kind of a Groundhog Day effect. Reliving the same day (or in this case) week over and over. I don’t know if this was intentional or happenstance, but it added a surprising dimension to this song.
I found “Ransom” to be a real standout on this album, mostly because it took me back to my teenage years. The song has an 80’s, Tom Petty-esque, classic rock ballad sound to it with strong guitar riffs, driving bass, and drums. It even shares that same songwriting that typified 80’s rock songs (intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, guitar solo, chorus, outro with additional guitar solo). Haven’t heard this format used in years. It makes me want to grow my mullet back! If I still had enough hair to do that with.
You can’t go wrong with a song that starts with "she smelled like menthol and regret." The last song on the album, “If You Want To,” has some punch to it. Lyrically it’s a first meeting / first date kind of song. It’s a hopeful sounding piece with faster paced music. Although the listener is not quite sure that their getting together is two people meeting, as planned, at a bar, or a desperate hookup to avoid loneliness. Either way, it seems like both people have the same idea, to get out of that bar and be alone.
Overall, this is a good start to a solo career for Josh. The music is good, the album is well-produced, his songwriting is solid, and the album flows well. I’d say give it a listen. I think that, for most, you will find something that you like. Look for it on 2/18 on most download platforms.
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