Game Winner (CD)


Joey Dosik

CD
Currently Unavailable
$14.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.

Amoeba Review

09/07/2020

As a reaction to modern popular music that feels like it's getting more scientifically produced by computer algorithms and search engines, the recent wave of neo-soul artists show more love for the unique vibrations of a Fender Rhodes, vocal harmonics, and analog vibes that are more real. Joey Dosik is no vintage audio fetishist, but his mellow style of soul with clean, sparse production mixed with drum machines and organic piano sounds with strange synth riffs strewn about is more passionate than any modern soul album today. Game Winner, Joey Dosik's debut EP, became a cult hit online, but Secretly Canadian is bringing out an expanded version with four extra tracks. Plus it allows an artist like Joey Dosik creative mobility by shifting from the niche Bandcamp market to an artist with a beautifully pressed record. Inspired by his love of basketball, the funky smooth riffs are all connected to the NBA without having to be the bombastic hits of overplayed Jock Jams. The title track, "Game Winner," is so confident with its low-fi production and simplicity, harking back to the private press soul albums of the early-80s. The song makes a sweet parallel between relationships and basketball by playing around with romantic metaphors and the fear of losing. "Running Away" is totally riffing on those soul hits of the '70s with a catchy riff that belongs more in an Isley Brothers B-side than anything of the last twenty years. Like "Game Winner," this track is also playing around with being somewhere between a romantic ballad and romantic soul jam with a bit of bossa nova taste and some vibraphone coolness. "Competitive Streak" might be his most modern song as it almost teeters into indie rock with a slightly more modern vibe instead of the completely mellow riffs of the other tracks. It also has a type of sad boy awareness that's more 2018 that 1974 as Joey Dosik goes through a type of self-loathing spiral of big game mistakes. If you think music about sports has to be Todd Rundgren's "Bang on the Drum All Day" and C+C Music Factory's "Make You Sweat," this album turns sports into poetry. Even if you're not into basketball, it also works perfect as a timeless sounding mix of ballads and personal songs.



Shop Amoeba Merch Paypal Music & Movies Ship Free at Amoeba From Our Friends at Guayki We Buy Large Collections
x Sign-up for emails, sales alerts & more:


loading...

Register


New customers, create your Amoeba.com account here. Its quick and easy!


Register

Don't want to register? Feel free to make a purchase as a guest!

Checkout as Guest

Currently, we do not allow digital purchases without registration

Close

Register

Become a member of Amoeba.com. It's easy and quick!

All fields required.

An error has occured - see below:

Minimum: 8 characters, 1 uppercase, 1 special character

Already have an account? Log in.

Close

Forgot Password






To reset your password, enter your registration e-mail address.




Close

Forgot Username





Enter your registration e-mail address and we'll send you your username.




Close

Amoeba Newsletter Sign Up

Submit
Close