Includes a bonus disc.
Personnel: Josh Kelly (vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro, Wurlitzer piano, programming, sound effects); Ben Peeler (electric guitar, lap steel, banjo, accordion); John Alagia (electric guitar, guitar, toy piano, keyboards, synthesizer, vibraphone, ebo, shaker, tambourine, samples, background vocals); Mike Andrews (lap steel, ukelele); Dave Yaden (piano, Clavinet, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer); Tom Freund (bass); Matt Johnson (drums).
Recorded at The Crab Trap, Easton, Maryland.
Josh Kelley wears his debt to Dave Matthews very much on his sleeve on this assured debut, using both Matthews' producer and several of the mega-platinum stadium rocker's vocal tricks on a collection of songs that ranges from the radio-friendly "Amazing," through the folksy "Follow You," to the Bic-waving anthem "Old Time Memory."
Kelley's personable vocals and user-friendly songs rely less on jam-band musical athletics than good old-fashioned musicianship courtesy of a backing band that includes Jeff Buckley's former drummer and recalls both that band's interplay and some of the Wallflowers' organ-laced sound. With Kelley's songwriting smarts and an image that cultivates a low-key, singer-songwriter-next-door image, FOR THE RIDE HOME is a high-quality introduction to a refreshingly laid-back, musically assured singer.