JB Elwood’s debut album, “Lost In My Ways,” takes us through a breath-taking nine-track trip that tells his life experiences and emotions. One gets to appreciate the tremendous versatility of the musician in pop, alternative, and rock; it is very compelling, deeply personal music.
The brightly feeling of “Redefined” is a colourful opening to a bright and colourful album. By the time the singing starts, Elwood has you hooked into his story. Synth sounds and many acoustic guitars, plus extended drums and many-layered harmonies, make for a rich wall of sound with this song.
The title track, “Lost in My Ways,” is an anthemic ballad about self-reflection and internal struggles. The drums come in hard and heavy, immediately followed by heavily distorted guitars, to carve out that indeed this is its presence rapidly. Introduced from the very first verse, Elwood’s voice is raw and expressive enough to complement the dynamics in the difference between subdued verses and high energy in the choruses. Here, the rhythmic drive of the acoustic guitars upholds a stimulating rhythmic pacing.
“Deep” plunges into catchy soundscapes, with its rootsy, folk, and country comments propelled by exciting instrumentals and yet a very high-energy, up chorus. Lyrically, it dips between themes of regret or self-realization, while a beautifully intimate bridge comes in one last time before that final, passionate chorus.
The velvety voice on “Night to Day” by Elwood, mixed with slow guitar-picking, stiffens up to squeeze out the complete mess of emotions brought on by falling in love and, in general, excitement over chance encounters.
“Something Real” is the finishing song on this album. It’s kicked off with a bright finger-picked sunshine-kissed guitar lick and visions of a rosy future full of hope, kept building to picking momentum, ultimately building into an all-out band performance. At the same time, Elwood croons his way through justifications of why he digs getting things to be accurate and honest in a world that so rarely seems to be so.
The newest JB Elwood record proves a heartfelt tour into life events and moments that shaped him. “Lost In My Ways” is an album where every track gives you an insight into some different part of Elwood’s experience and emotions, making this an amiable, deeply engaging record.
Elwood pleasantly reflected on his debut album: “Lost In My Ways, is a collection of my life experiences and how these experiences have molded me into the person that I am today. These songs are the soundtrack to my life and now I hope that they can become the soundtrack to yours as well. My debut album tells stories of regret, adventure, redemption, sadness, love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.”
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrew Middleton, “Lost In My Ways” is said to capture the creativity and dedication of Elwood. His music truly shines through the shadows of his nomadic upbringing, Appalachian roots, and deep family connections—from his grandfather’s love for music to the goodwill guitar that bridged between himself and music—with JB Elwood now calling Austin, Texas, home and creating a dwelling that genuinely embodied the artistic spirit.
He writes music that’s rich with vulnerability and authenticity, so there’s this great way to relate to his stories while simultaneously finding a natural soundtrack for our lives. “Lost In My Ways” heralds phenomenal talent in JB Elwood and the start of heartfelt storytelling. Each song is like a chapter in a book on hold from his life, waiting for you to read, relate, and remember.
You can find more of JB Elwood at:
You can listen to ‘Lost In My Ways’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.