“Nation of Two” by Vance Joy

Vance Joy’s second album brings back his folksy, beat-driven sound. I love Vance Joy because his voice is so raw and it is complemented by a huge range that he uses effortlessly. His voice goes low and high so skillfully that, if I hadn’t spent several showers singing his songs, I wouldn’t have realized that he hits the notes he does.

In 2014, the Australian singer released his first album, “Dream Your Life Away,” which featured the famous song “Riptide.” Four years later, Joy’s sound has not changed at all. I do love to see artists evolve and I would be lying if I said that Joy brings something completely different to his new album. But, Joy’s sound is so unique and unlike anything else on the airways that I appreciate him maintaining his sound.

Honestly, each of the 13 plucky, drum-backed tunes on the album seem like they could all be continuations of the one before. While I usually like it when artists have a variety of songs on their albums, I don’t feel this way for Joy. I love his songs because of the way they make me feel and I don’t want his sound to change.

His songs are full of pleading lyrics that are complemented by his layered melodies. I feel like whenever I listen to his music I am being taken on a flight to an unknown destination. Or, I feel like I’ve just watched the end of the movie when the hero runs to the airport to tell his lover how he feels before she gets on the plane.

Ok, the airplane analogy is getting old, but Vance Joy? I think he’s just getting started.

Favorite Tracks:

“Saturday Sun” — What’s better than a sunny weekend?

“Bonnie & Clyde” — Love the lyrics on this one.