JOSH NORRAD

                                                              "Boondocks" 

                                                              Independent Release

When “To the Wind” earned a substantial amount of buzz by going Top 15 on iTunes and staying in the Top 20 on the Country Thunder Network for 10 straight weeks, Canadian country artist Josh Norrad unexpectedly found himself in the unique position of having to find the perfect song to follow it up with.

After receiving an amazing response to his homemade video of him singing of Little Big Town’s “Boondocks,” which he recorded in an empty grain barn at the Flottemesch Farms, the perfect follow-up song found him.

We all know the song. We can all sing the lyrics. And we all love it! Those are precisely the reasons why it’s become the signature hit for Little Big Town.

Knowing that there isn’t a way to really top the success they found with the song by doing a complete duplicate of it, while Norrad does hold close to the original in some ways, he also finds all the perfect ways to make it completely his own, giving a new flare to the familiar.

Where the LBT version of the song had a decisively bluegrass tilt to its country charmed vibe, Norrad opts to lean into guitar licks and the punch of his vocals to deliver a higher energy, more mud-stomping version of the song.

Because of taking this route, his version carries a grit that balances on the rocking edge of country with starts and stops to the guitars that slide together with the rhythm to give this a choppy, swampy feel that perfectly injects the song with strong audience participation moments, while also enhancing the lyrics in a fresh, unique way.

Lyrically, Norrad takes certain liberties to the familiarity and changes them up just enough to make them fit with his personal story, adding a deeper connection to the song that gives his vocal a raw realness as he sings lines such:

“And I can taste that sugar of a maple tree” - - - rather than “honeysuckle and it’s still so sweet.”

“Grows wild, on the banks of the Miramichi” - - - rather than “on the banks down at old camp creek.” 

“We’ll go fishing in the salmon hole” - - - rather than “We’ll go fishing in the crawfish hole.”

Cover songs are always tricky releases. Some of them have worked to propel an artist’s career forward by earning them national attention, while others have become fan favorites that they’ll hear the artist play at their shows. Whether “Boondocks” becomes a breakout hit for Josh Norrad remains to be seen, but with his unique twist and personalized touches added to it, it’s a safe bet to say it will become a big part of his setlists going forward regardless of radio airplay.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

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