Orange County Register - Orange Pop

This Man Can Do It All

John Hoskinson has just released "Miscellaneous Heathen," an 11-song collection that boasts dazzling and affecting vocals blended with strong songwriting, wide-ranging musical arrangements and that magic touch that cruelly eludes the majority of aspiring artists. Many local musicians tend to apologize for their self-produced CDs - typically noting that they lacked the time, money and team of skillful backing players to achieve their ideal recording. Hoskinson's "Miscellaneous Heathen" stands up to the best discs I've received this year, clearly outdistancing the majority of recent major-label releases in terms of intelligent songwriting, artful vocal arrangements and the sound of the recording itself.

JOHN HOSKINSON: The singer-songwriter’s self-produced CD is among the year’s best.

With Hoskinson's impressive skills on guitar, piano and bass serving as a solid foundation, guests such as Eugene Edwards (lead guitar), Peter Miller (cello), Don Clucas (trumpet) and Joe Ongie (glockenspiel) provide icing on the sonic cake.

"I had been hoping to do a CD since 1999," Hoskinson said in an interview this week.

"After hearing 'Lovefest' (Ongie's self-produced third album, released in 2000,) I knew this was the guy I wanted to do mine," Hoskinson recalled.

Because Ongie was busy producing several other projects, including Seal Beach singer-songwriter Michael Miller's "When We Come To," he suggested that Hoskinson continue to write and produce demos until they could work together.

"In the meantime I was writing more and more songs, and I started using the same recording software as Joe," said Hoskinson.

When they got together to work this year, Ongie was so impressed with Hoskinson's home demos, he suggested that they just record the drums at his Santa Ana studio and leave the other vocal and instrumental tracks as they were.

"Some songs dated back to 2002; some I wrote two months before we recorded the drum tracks in January," Hoskinson said.

Although the recording and production efforts of Ongie and Hoskinson are impressive, those efforts would be wasted without the power of Hoskinson's songs. He explained that Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz) and Paul McCartney have had a strong influence on his approach to crafting songs.

"I like McCartney; the way he can write happy songs, but there is a sadness seeping through," he noted. "I always write the music first; I'll start with a verse or chorus. A melody will suggest itself, and then the rest of the song comes together. The lyrics come last. That's not the smartest way to write songs, but that's the way I've always done it."

But no matter the process, achingly beautiful ballads ("It's Not My Place"), biting rockers ("I Hope I Die Before You Do," "She Still Plays Around") and raw acoustic-anchored gems such as "Uncharacteristic (It Must Be You)" all hit their creative mark.

In addition to performing solo dates, Hoskinson has been performing select shows as a duo with Edwards and as part of the Eugene Edwards Band.

"It's a nice synergy," Hoskinson said of his work with Edwards, who has just released his debut CD, "My Favorite Revolution."

"We complement each other without competing."

Hoskinson has been favorably compared to Finn. But it was only without particular emphasis and near the end of a lengthy interview that Hoskinson mentioned that he actually joined Finn onstage to perform "Weather With You" at Largo in Los Angeles in July 2000. Hoskinson's Web site features a photo and an audio clip of the performance.

Despite the strong early reviews coming in the wake of "Miscellaneous Heathen," Hoskinson is modest about the increasing number of accolades being thrown his way by musicians, critics and an ever-growing number of fans.

"My goals are realistic. I'd be happy if I broke even," Hoskinson said.

Hoskinson will perform a free show at the Gypsy Den, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 8:30-11 p.m. Aug.27.

For more information on coming Hoskinson performances, as well as to listen to audio clips and details about getting a copy of "Miscellaneous Heathen," visit www .johnhoskinson.com.

Freelance writer Robert Kinsler has covered pop music in Orange County for the Register since 1992.