Josh Gracin Albums (2)
'We Weren't Crazy'
Release Date 4/1/2008
Tracks 11
Label Lyric Street
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Despite the success of contemporary vocalist Josh Gracin's self-titled debut album -- the set landed three Top Five singles (including "Nothin' to Lose," which hit the top spot) and went gold -- the former American Idol contestant (and fourth-place finisher in the second season) faces a bigger test on his sophomore effort for a number of reasons. First of all, this is a very fickle marketplace. Gracin began to record a follow-up album to be released in 2006, tentatively called I Keep Coming Back, but pulled the plug, citing a need to record all new material. Four years is a long time out of the limelight in popular music in the 21st century. Luckily for him, country audiences tend to be more loyal than rock & roll audiences, and are not as obsessed with next big things. Musically, Gracin knew what he was doing, apparently. Once more he teams with producer Marty Williams and engineer Bart Morris on some cuts and Brett James and Luke Wooten on others; there are also a few holdovers from the studio band on his debut -- namely bassist Mike Brignardello, backing vocalist Russell Terrell, and the ubiquitous steel guitarist Dan Dugmore. A nice addition here is veteran studio ace Matt Rollings on keyboards. Gracin is one of those big-voiced singers who gets to his upper tenor register somewhat effortlessly, and he makes the most of it on power ballads and big guitar storming anthems that have enough punch and enough story in them to carry the listener along for the ride. His voice drips with sincerity in everything he delivers, which is a real plus. The title cut, which was written by Gracin, is a standout. The enormously compressed guitars climb and wail, and Dugmore's steel has distortion careening over a multi-voiced chorus with a ringing 12-string and big drums. It's the album's first single, and it's a worthy one. Blair Daly's "I Don't Want to Live" follows the same basic formula, and it too works seamlessly with a nice lonesome fiddle touch at the tail end of the each line that trails into the beginning of the next. The breeziness of "Telluride," by Brett James and Troy Verges, with its neo-psychedelic guitar touches and shuffling pace, has one of those fairy-tale "poor but rich with love" storylines, and is another sure bet as a single and/or a video. Ultimately, this is formulaic contemporary country, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing; its fans are always hungry for more stories, more guitars, more catchy hooks and big choruses. Gracin does it better than most; if anyone has a chance of making lightning strike twice -- despite the long wait -- it's him. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With his all-American charm and loyal following, Josh Gracin defied predictions and criticisms to finish fourth in the second season of the phenomenally popular American Idol television program. As the only contestant to embrace country music, Gracin set himself apart and played to a built-in audience in a format that none of the other finalists were tapping. Released at a time when a slew of other Idolists were dropping their own discs, Gracin's decision to go country on his debut was a wise move, as it gave him the opportunity to stake a claim in an open field while the others were left fighting for a tiny piece of mainstream real estate. Teaming up with producer Marty Williams (Rascal Flatts), Gracin mines the country-pop territory that butts up against property owned by artists like Lonestar, and although he hasn't found any golden nuggets like "Amazed," he does surface with a set of quality tunes that have a few gems among them. The hit single "I Want to Live" is the type of well-crafted composition that, with minor changes in the arrangement, could work as an adult contemporary song, a bombastic pop/rocker, or, in this case, a thundering country-pop tune dressed up with a fiddle and steel guitar. The moody "Wheels" is a dark tale of longing that drives the album forward right into the lightning-fast lyrics of the clever "Nothin' to Lose." Elsewhere, the disc has most of the ingredients that make a basic musical country stew, including big string-drenched ballads ("Brass Bed"), an annoyingly cute tune ("I Would Look Good With You"), a ballsy rocker ("Turn It Up"), and a patriotic tearjerker ("The Other Little Soldier"). Most of these songs are a bit bland and not quite as tasty as the urgent "Endless Helpless Hoping," but there is nothing that leaves a bad aftertaste. Much like he has done with Rascal Flatts, Marty Williams has designed a perfectly polished collection that suits Gracin's personality and vocals (which have transferred to the recording studio quite well). There is nothing daring or adventurous in the music or with Gracin himself, but that's just fine. Considering all the hoopla and instant fame generated by the contest, it's remarkable that he was able to focus and record a consistent and pleasant debut. He may not have won the title, but Josh Gracin has recorded an album befitting an American (country) Idol. ~ Aaron Latham, All Music Guide
