review

OFFBEAT MAGAZINE REVIEW/ NOVEMBER 2000

Josh Hyde

All You Need Is Soul

The Edge Of Love

(Independent)

Getting older is funny. Maturity changes one's entire perspective. Josh Hyde's The Edge of Love marks an artist's step into maturity. The first sign of this is found, of course, in the title. Love is a topic that swims in this CD, soaks in it. It seems that sex and relationships have become central to Hyde's songwriting source of inspiration. This was not the case on his first effort, All You Need Is Soul , which seemed to revel in the aura of New Orleans, where Hyde spent much of his youth. The back cover art for this album is a picture of Hyde at probably about age 10, watching his fingers as he plays guitar.

As with the last album, the title cut is also the first song. "The Edge of Love," is a bluesy, smooth, strong song. Hyde flexes his brain muscle on the entire album, but especially here, writing, "Lay my head on a lonely bed / 28 and I feel half dead / You know I've got a heart of lead / But I think I'm on the edge of love."

Josh's voice has grown more expressive and stronger since the first album as well. He shows this on songs like the brass-filled, funky, "Stuck In a Rut." Emotion comes through like fog covering the Mississippi. Anyone looking for catchy, harmonic and interesting music should check Josh Hyde out. He expresses some of the passions and traditions that continue to thrive in this old city.

–Nick Kaye