Marking James Ellis’ debut album, ‘The Earth & All Within’ proudly pushes the Philadelphia-native in front of a global audience, showcasing the project’s unique sonic formula and its elegant, yet roaring allure. You see, while Ellis is indeed someone you would define as a ‘rockstar’, he’s also dared to expand the instrumental framework, adding a charming string section to the mix. Opener ‘The Earth’ showcases that perfectly, hitting us in the face with a high-octane, fierce uptempo rock tune and cinematic strings.
‘The Earth’ is an instrumental piece, something that instantly gives us an example of what we could expect from the record later on. ‘We All Fall Down’ introduces Ellis’ vocals in an anthemic fashion, and honestly, they are quite perfect. Drawing inspiration from Dave Grohl and Billie Joe Armstrong, among others, James’s tone is the ideal blend of evocative energy and a sharp, potent timbre, allowing him to command the listeners’ attention promptly.
To avoid misunderstandings, we should clarify that the project is named The Earth & All Within, and yes, the album is homonymous. Recorded between Milkboy the Studio and Gradwell House Recording, the record benefits from the Philadelphia String Quartet’s nuanced work, instilling a touch of classical elegance to an otherwise gritty, tortuous and hard-hitting album. Speaking about his work, Ellis explains: “It was such a novel idea, a rock band with a string section. It felt like something that should have already existed, so I went ahead and did it myself.”
Recommended! Discover ‘The Earth & All Within’ on Spotify:
