The 7-song 'SELF TITLED' is the debut EP from the 28 year old singer/songwriter and self-proclaimed 'extraordinarily ordinary acoustic poet', Josh Holley. Josh has been making a name for himself for the past 3 years in Savannah, GA, performing as an actor/guitarist/singer for the Savannah Theatre, in the award-winning shows 'LOST IN THE 50's', 'JUKEBOX JOURNEY', and 'A CHRISTMAS TRADITION'. Learning 'quite a bit from performing in orchestra pits for different musicals and reviews, and playing to hundreds weekly', Holley started writing his own songs and posted a few home demos on his myspace site. Soon after, a buzz started, with well over 50,000 plays and actual internet/college radio chart postions for some of the songs. 'I realized very quickly that a demand for the music was growing, and was selling a compilation demos CD online to keep up with it, but I didn't really want everyone to think that those rough home demos were THE ALBUM, so I recorded this EP to kind of give those songs a more justified representation and professional feel.' said Holley. While the EP is multi-layered and definitely has some modern elements, it manages to remain true to the folk and blues roots and keeps it's 'human' feel, which is very important to Josh, "I feel that it's been getting harder to find REAL or HONEST music nowadays, and while I'm a fan of all types of music, I just think it's scary to get SO overproduced and 'perfect'..... I just wanted to make an organic album that captures real and flawed moments and human poetry, with just enough modern arrangements to draw people back to that kind of music. I hope these songs are the breath that you take in a day to reflect on life, and that they help you realize that each day is a gift and a challenge at the same time. But most importantly, that You are not alone, and WE can make it! I'm all about spreading the LOVE, and positive thinking and reflection, because I think we, as a people, and as listeners, NEED it." After listening to this album, you're certain to agree that he's succeeded with that goal in his first offering ---it really is an experience and a soothing and inspiring EP, and while hard to describe, very easy to enjoy! My attempt: if you were to take Jeff Buckley, Amos Lee, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and Prince and somehow breed a fresh new songwriter, the result would be Josh Holley. I cannot imagine this CD disappointing any real acoustic music fan. ****the BANDHUMOR.NET REVIEW>>>>>> The long awaited debut album by Josh Holley, “Self Titled”, is quickly becoming a favorite CD among MySpace listeners. It has been in the works for over 6 months, and finally was available to listeners on January 24. After listening to the tracks off the CD, there's a lot to tell; however the best way for you to really experience the full on combination of blues and rock by this Georgia native, is to get out to a show and pick up a copy. The first song on the album “Tell The Folks” describes exactly what you can expect to hear for the rest of the CD. He's going to make his name heard and everyone is going to hear it. The track has a very bluesy feel to it, however, Josh makes the southern stereotype of music stand out when he adds his spin of rock/pop to the mix. It makes the transition to the rest of the CD worth the listen. Amazing song to start out with, it caught my attention, and will definitely catch yours. My favorite track out of the whole album is “Set Your Mind At Ease”. “I don't want to be the one to say ‘miracle's happen everyday', but they do” is the first lyric in the song and already in the first line of the song, you feel reassured to know that maybe miracle's do happen, if you look in the right place. My personal opinion on this song, is it's perfect for any occasion, weddings, graduations, and the birth of your 1st or 10th child; SYMAE will make you see that “no matter how impossible it seems you can do anything as long as you believe…” as the lyrics say. Some people after their first listen might compare Josh's style to the likes of Jack Johnson, or compare him to other Georgia born musicians like Josh Kelley or Ray Charles; but Holley takes a step in a different direction with his music than anyone I've ever heard before. He's managed to take his musical upbringing and create a sound that hasn't been done in music yet. I am proud to say that this is the first and most likely the only time I will ever hear such originality in an artist's form of expression. This is completely different from everything we're all used to on MTV and the radio, and the kind of music that should be touching everyone's lives. -Ashley Ustinovich The MUSIQTONE.COM REVIEW>>>>>> "Jack Johnson meets southern cooking with a dash of blues in EP" Georgia is a certainly a fertile ground for some of the greatest music the music world has ever seen. Recently, you got John Mayer (he formulated much of his music while living and toiling in Atlanta's music scene) and Ludacris. But Georgia has brought out like Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Travis Tritt, Trisha Yearwood, TLC, and of course the great and uncomparable James Brown. Pop in the latest CD from Savannah's very own Josh Holley and someday he might be up there with some of the best acts to ever come out of Georgia. Josh Holley is a 28 year old talent out from the warm grounds of Savannah, GA. His music, according to Myspace is “acoustic, folk, and Christian,” but after listening to his new EP called 'Self Titled,' this reviewer would put him more in line of “Jack Johnson meets Southern cooking with a liberal dash of the Blues.” In fact there are times in the 7-track EP that he does sound like Hawaii's native son, very light but a hynoptizing drawl and this reviewer thinks the lyrics most resemble Jack's, very folk-like and steeped in regional themes. The album begins with the very folksy 'Tell the Folks,” which has a very nice guitar arrangement and the lyrics are very much down home Southern with allusions to life down in the deep South. This song sets the tone for the rest of the album. 'Set Your Mind At Ease' is probably the best track on the album and the one that really sounds very much Jack Johnson-like but it also adds a very interesting element to the song. He also draws a bit from blues legends like native son Ray Charles, but the lyrical sense maybe a bit closer to Chicago's Buddy Guy. Very complex song, but it rolls over magnificently and that would be the highlight track of the EP. Actually you get the blues feel on all the tracks but 'Set Your Mind' is certainly a blues-worthy track. Overall, this EP shines and Josh's talents really shows; he is one of those rare people in music that can write and play magnificently. The guitar-playing is very well-done and the lyrics are quite refreshing and original; there's storybook-like feel to the lyrics. And, the deep-rooted allusions to Southern-fried blues adds a wonderful and creative element to the acoustic pop/rock base the Holley has crafted. Someday, he'll make Georgia very proud and this reviewer hopes that this isn't the last time the name Josh Holley is anywhere. Final word: For those looking for a fresh, new, and very good material, then you need to dip into the indie/underground and buy yourself a copy of 'Self Titled," which according to CDBaby.com is out of stock. This should tell you where he stands with his impressive following, who have clearly waited for this for quite some time. On some level, he may be better than John Mayer (dare I say?) is executing the blues-pop style. The only thing I didn't like was the constant channeling of Jack Johnson; at times he would have been better served to lose the channel. Some of the songs fit the kind of mold Jack puts himself in, but at the same time, I think there were a couple tracks where it didn't fit. The best track is no. 4, a definite must-listen. Overall, pretty good EP and I hope to hear more of Josh Holley...certainly has the potential to get on the big stage someday and join an impressive list of talent, home-grown or transplanted from the state of Georgia. (Rating:4.0 out of 5) -Alan Ho