Singer/songwriter
Greg Holden's third full-length album, 2015's
Chase the Sun, finds the Scottish-born, English-raised, N.Y.C. transplant digging deeper into his earnest folk- and pop-inspired music.
Holden's first album since signing with Warner Bros,
Chase the Sun follows his 2012 fan-funded Kickstarter effort, I Don't Believe You. While the move to a major label affords
Holden a more visible profile, as with his past work,
Chase the Sun showcases his literate, heartfelt songs and burnished vocal croon. This time out,
Holden collaborated with producer
Greg Wells, who previously helmed albums by such pop luminaries as
One Republic,
Katy Perry, and
Adele. On first glance, the pairing might seem like an odd one, with
Wells' credits leaning more toward a slick, studio-heavy production style. However, the match-up works quite nicely, with
Wells finding just the right balance of instrumentation and studio wizardry (tasteful mandolin on "Chase the Sun" and discreet electric organ on "Save Yourself") to further bring
Holden's simple, hummable songs to life. To these ends, cuts like the bluesy "Bulletproof" and the anthemic "Free Again" touch upon such disparate influences as
Led Zeppelin and
Dashboard Confessional. Also pleasant are the rambling, country-infused "Hold Tight," the bittersweet "It'll All Come Out," and the introspective, piano-driven title track. ~ Matt Collar