Review: "Music to Drown By" EP by Josh Naujokas
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A wild freewheeling approach defines Josh Naujokas’ emotionally charged “Music to Drown By” EP. Stylistically he opts for a mutant hybrid of twisted neo-R&B alongside element of emo, all framed within a hip-hop template, resulting in a sound uniquely his own. Flows are spit with pure fire for the fury of the sound proves to be unstoppable; Josh is a virtual force of nature. Lyricism goes for a sense of passion while the songs churn about. Pop references with a sense of purpose adorns the whole of the EP. Rhythms opt for a sense of swagger for they radiate a unique sense of confidence.
Josh references a great deal of artists throughout the entirety of the collection. Rhye’s defiantly weird take on R&B certainly plays a factor in terms of the EP’s otherworldly charm. With a keen ear for melody, Josh lets lyric and groove fuse together to become one. For the confessional aspect of the storytelling, Josh takes on elements of Tyler, the Creator’s stylistic flourishes. Intricately detailed, the inner thoughts and monologue gain a poignancy. Yearning, desire, and more filter into the sound adding to the dense tapestry.
“Glad!” sets the tone for what follows, as nimble crisp beats further add to the geometric quality of the sound. Snapping back and forth, the trap beat stuns. With “Ron Burgundy’s Weekend”, feat. Jonny Craig, the song struts by with such confidence. By far the highlight, there is a playfulness to the overall approach.
A great deal of spaciousness defines the colossal “Beg Your Indulgence”. Dramatic, stately chords help to anchor the whole track. Quite airy there is an echoing beauty to it. A mantra-like devotion emerges on the cycles of “Mona Lise Is Just a Stage Name”. Low-slung funk comes into the fray on the stylish noir of “Medusa Gave Me Rigor Mortis”. Within this singular track Josh’s delivery comes straight from the heart possessing a sense of urgency. Keeping things loose and ending things on a high note is the reflective “Look Out Caesar! (Freestyle)”.
The “Music to Drown By” EP crafts a timeless kaleidoscopic aura for Josh Naujokas as he incorporates so much color into the delightful mix.