Heads Up International
Joe McBride is a jazz-pop singer and keyboardist who’s unafraid of diversity in music, as evidenced on this standout album. McBride folds disparate song sources into his album which is united by a limited number of instruments. Gnarls Barkley’s pop song “Crazy” is covered on the album, as is Vanessa Carlton’s “1000 Miles.” Even the funk-rap Cameo classic “Word Up” gets a mean shake as a reworking. McBride asserts his own soulful style into the cover, and the album as a whole feels like an extremely rewarding journey. –forrest green III
