-Josh A - The Return Review-

Firstly, The Cover Art: I'm 99% sure this is AI, and if it isn't what in his mind went "Yeah this looks good, I'll go with this". It looks extremely edgy as well as awful, anyways Let's get onto the actual music.

"The Return"

This is the first song after his "return". I really think this feels like him saying he doesn't care while also being unable to hide that he definitely cares. I'm in no way a Josh A hater, I'd even consider myself a fan and I have been for a few years, but just a single song in and I've already cringed. It feels extremely pretentious which can work, but given just the general sound and quality of this song and more so this whole album, it doesn't feel earned.

"Hell & Back"

"Life I chose, no Plan B" haha, nice. So far this song is a massive improvement over the first track, still feels extremely generic, but it's a nice change from whatever that first was. "I miss the days when I used to be Fearless" same man, same. Josh A mentions a loss in the family, which to that, sorry for your loss, but did you really need to put that in the same song as a Plan B joke? Anyways, Overall, this song feels like something that maybe could've fit on "You're Not Alone", Which I'd say is a positive.

"Grief"

I believe he reuses the "Long Way To Go" flow here, which sounds very pretty and fits for the tone of this song. This song is clearly centered around the loss of a family member or loved one of some kind, and Josh A dealing with the pain and loss that caused him. Praying he doesn't lose anyone else, and telling himself he needs to move on from the loss, even if it'll stay with him every day, and he'd rather be it out of his mind entirely.

"Barely Hanging On"

This song is Josh A venting about how lost he's felt, and that he's struggling to even hold out anymore. Mentioning he missed out on so many things he wishes he could've said to them before they were gone, and the fact he never got to say goodbye to them one last time. "'Cause that wasn't you in that hospital bed” is possibly referring to being there as a family member passes in a hospital, and that horrifying realization that the person you've loved isn't there anymore. Overall, this song makes me incredibly emotional, and I'd like to say this is definitely one of Josh A's most emotionally vulnerable songs. On top of it all this once again goes back to a more "You're Not Alone" style sound, which fits to make this song's tone and sound match up greatly.

"Demons"

Alright, "Demons". This song is alright, it feels like a slightly different take on his usual "I don't care about fame, but I need to lock in and rap" which, I mean alright. It's definitely gotten a little stale but he changes it up enough to where it isn't absolutely awful. This is a fine mediocre song, with kind of tired lyrics, but that's okay, not every song needs to be amazing to be fun to listen to. And after the last two tracks, I'd assume Josh A just wanted a more standard style song to take a break from the sadness and heavier topics of the last.

"Villain"

This song talks a lot about "The State of The Game™", which my god is such a tired topic by this point. He talks about hating labels, which yes they suck, if only there were some other songs he mentioned that by now.. cough. Anyways this song also has a giant issue, the Ice Spice bar. I get his point, kind of? But this is such a tired joke that people like Tom McDonald would make, and I get he wasn't doing a "haha women rappers, am I right" thing, but I’d imagine that's what a lot of his fanbase will take it as. The beat cutout when he goes "drugs, women, cars" is really fun, but I can't take any of this song seriously after hearing "Ice Spice made it jiggling cheeks". I don't know, I'm sure some people will like this, definitely not me though.

"Take My Soul Back"

Okay, he locked back in. Also what is this beat? I love it honestly, good job Josh. I also love that "Yeah~" he does at the end of "carving out my legacy, yeah~", I'm a sucker for Josh A doing anything other than generically rapping, and that scratches that itch. I swear this first verse uses the flow from another song, but I can't exactly pinpoint what it is. This bridge.. Oh my god. "Tell me why~" Dude please I need so many songs with Josh doing weird singing-style flows like that. This song's lyrics are kind of generic by this point in the album, but everything else like his flows really help to make this song a treat to listen to every time. 

"Alone With My Thoughts"

This song talks about taking time off and being alone with yourself, as stated by the title, "Alone With My Thoughts". Josh A once again feels lost, dark thoughts in his mind, trying to find himself. This song honestly doesn't do anything for me, it feels almost like a filler track; which might be rude to say but that's just my opinion. Also every time I hear this track and he says "November" it makes me laugh, I don't know why he said it like that, but it's pretty funny to me.

"Lost You"

I want more songs like this so bad, I think Josh A really excels the most when he isn't rapping. This song talks about his ex, and about how he misses her and is upset that nobody can fill that void she left in him. As well as how she haunts his mind, as he thinks about every moment they spent together, only for the happy memories to be replaced with feelings of dread and sadness. This definitely sounds like a song that'll be in every Josh A fan's "Breakup Playlist". 

"Devil In Disguise"

Okay, so this song is about the same ex (?) but now he's saying he doesn't want her back because she cheated, which kind of contradicts the last track but I'll just assume he found out new information since then? I don't know man I'm trying to back him up here, I don't think it's that deep. This song sounds pretty good, as previously mentioned this song's about a girlfriend who cheated and used him, but wants Josh A back, he says he's over it 'cause she broke his heart and trust. As well as him wanting better for himself. Basically just Josh A saying for his ex to leave him alone so he can move on and suppress any remaining feelings he had for his ex.

"Beautiful Scars"

This chorus uses the flow from *something* but I'm not exactly sure what. Also I don't know if it's just me, but this song sounds like it's from the perspective of a dude who's been manipulated into being like "She has issues but so do I, So it's okay!" He talks about being on the road doing shows, he hasn't done concerts in ages, no clue why he keeps talking about playing shows, it's kind of funny. Anyways besides the weird context of the last two songs being about a bad breakup and then an ex who cheated and used him, followed by a love song talking about them going through "Hell and Back", very weird and what an awful album closer for his "Return" album. It's not necessarily a bad song, and I think it'll definitely be a lot of peoples favorites off this project, but as the final song on an album it kind of leaves no lasting impression.

-Closing Thoughts-

Anyways, that was my review of "The Return'' by Josh A. Overall, I'd say this certainly isn't one of his best albums, but it's alright. Could've used a stronger outro (even an instrumental piece to close out could've been nice), but I won't complain too much since it's still an improvement over "Lonely Vibes" and Definitely "Fearless II". I really hope Josh A will just hire literally anyone to design a decent cover for him, I get he touches up the AI and stuff but it’s still awful, and for someone who loves talking about the “The State of The Game™” he sure has no respect for actual artists using computer generated garbage. Overall, if I had to give a score, I’d say it’s a 6.5/10 album at best. I just can’t rate it higher honestly, because it would be disingenuous. As well as unfair compared to some of the amazing albums that have come out even just this year.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day <3