Considering he is from Columbus, Josh Fitzwater's acoustic rock music hits the spot for Athens' taste.
The Story of We is Fitzwater's six-track debut album that combines the jazz atmosphere of a disappointing love lost with a languid country twang.
As a whole, the album is reminiscent of artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson or G. Love and the Special Sauce. Fitzwater also has a connection to Ryan Smith, a fellow Columbus guitarist that makes many appearances in Athens and it's easy to see the similarity in their acoustic music.
One song that is definitely reminiscent of G. Love and a little more upbeat is the song Watchin' And Waitin
' which contains the especially clever lyric Well the sun was shining and I was trying/To take it all in and grab a piece of mind/There's no need to sulk there's no time for this/Because when you touch my skin it's like Photosynthesis.
This song gives a glimmer of hope compared with the other songs that are more sorrowful. Fitzwater definitely deserves recognition for rhyming a word like photosynthesis.
Another song that includes hope for after a break up is Exploiting A Feeling in which Josh croons Go on and get the wherewithal/To lead me on with so much gall/I'm hanging on your every word/I'm holding out cause I hope it's my turn/Tell me what I want to hear/Well I don't care if it takes a year.
As a whole, this album flows together quite cohesively and makes for a solid debut album. Anyone looking for a new local folk artist to check out should definitely listen to Josh Fitzwater. Fitzwater has multiple CD release shows in the Ohio area coming up in the next few weeks, including dates in Columbus and Zanesville. His Athens debut is tonight in the Baker University Center Front Room.
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Kelly Kettering
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