Life Is Not a Snapshot

Personnel: Josh Wilson (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, melodica, keyboards, vibraphone, hand claps, background vocals); Britt Nicole, Sarah Reeves, Christina Nichols, Brad O'Donnell (vocals, vibraphone, hand claps); Court Clement, Mike Payne, Michael Chaves (electric guitar); Jeff Pardo (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer, programming); Ben Shive (piano); Zac Rae (Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, synthesizer); Aaron Sterling (drums); Marshall Altman (percussion, programming, background vocals); Lindsey Jones, Alli Rogers (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Jeff Pardo; F. Reid Shippen.
Recording information: Bletchley Park; Casa De Bevins; El Dorado Studios, Burbank, CA; Invertigo Productions; The Galt Line, North Hollywood, CA; Track Shack.
Photographer: Micah Kandros.
Arrangers: Jeff Pardo; Josh Wilson; Marshall Altman.
Josh Wilson's second disc brings to mind the exuberant vocals and understated pop sensibilities of a young Steven Curtis Chapman. The gifted singer/songwriter peels back the surface of subjects that he knows about -- like his devotion to God -- and those that he is still investigating -- such as the reason for suffering in the world. With his resilient curiosity, Wilson dresses his questions in light AC grooves ("Listen," "Right in Front of Me") and standard modern worship ("Sing," "Before the Morning"). The short seven-track album concludes with an instrumental rendition of "Amazing Grace" that is ideal soundtrack fodder, though one wonders how such laudable guitar work could be put to better use on a more obscure tune. This disc is a proper stepping stone to even greater output. With a more distinguishable sound, Wilson could really be onto something here. ~ Jared Johnson