B-Side Guys

Two weeks from its release, Newport musician Joe Kelly has shattered the sophomore slump myth with “Cast Me Down,” a collection that doesn’t just build upon his acclaimed debut but reveals it was merely one face of a dual-natured creative vision. Where “World on Fire” introduced listeners to Kelly’s roots-influenced indie rock foundation, this new offering via Dirty Carrot Records demonstrates surprising versatility and experimental fearlessness.

The album’s sequencing proves particularly effective—opening with familiar Americana touchstones before that disorienting backwards guitar loop signals a dramatic shift into uncharted territory. This structural choice creates a narrative arc that mirrors the artist’s own evolution, inviting listeners to follow his expanding sonic palette rather than jarring them with immediate stylistic whiplash.

Kelly’s production choices throughout “Cast Me Down” reflect a musician liberated by success rather than constrained by expectations. The psychedelic elements aren’t merely decorative flourishes but fundamental to the compositions, creating dimensional depth that rewards headphone listening. Particularly impressive is how the album maintains cohesion despite its adventurous genre-hopping—the psychological through-line in Kelly’s songwriting voice anchors explorations into psych-pop, desert rock textures, and late-night soul grooves.

What’s most fascinating about “Cast Me Down” is its existence as a parallel creation rather than a response to its predecessor. Recorded during the same creative period as “World on Fire,” these songs reveal Kelly making conscious curatorial decisions about his artistic presentation—initially establishing accessibility before revealing more challenging aspects of his musical personality. This approach shows remarkable self-awareness and strategic patience, qualities that distinguish career artists from fleeting talents.

The Royal Pharmacy provides essential support throughout, adapting to each stylistic shift with impressive versatility. Their contributions feel particularly vital during the album’s Abbey Road-influenced sequences, where complex arrangements require both technical precision and emotional intuition.

“Cast Me Down” stands as proof that Joe Kelly belongs in conversation with more celebrated indie rock experimentalists. By demonstrating this level of artistic ambition just sixteen days after his vinyl debut reached audiences, Kelly has compressed the typical evolutionary timeline in service of a complete artistic vision—one that suggests even greater adventures await.