Where his debut was rooted in processing profound personal loss, So Little, Close to Nothing looks at what happens after grief stops being an event and becomes a condition: something lived with, carried, integrated.
“I don’t think anyone ever really moves past or through grief,” Thayer says. “You just take it on. You become everything you were before, plus that experience, and it’s up to you to figure out what and who you are afterwards.”
The Process
Recorded largely in the basement of his Medford, MA home, Thayer performed nearly every instrument himself, with drummer Jason Smith contributing at 1357 Recording Studio. Sonically, the album expands on the raw urgency of his debut with richer textures, doubled guitars, and layered harmonies.
Highlights
- “We Won’t Relent”: A propulsive, jangly anthem about refusing to cede emotional ground.
- “Get Down”: A meditation on friendship and the distortions of nostalgia.
- “Do You Want to Change Your Life?”: A wrestling match with breakdown and acceptance.
The album closes with “It Makes No Difference,” a powerful reflection on mortality and meaning—what it is to leave even the faintest mark on the world before light fades.
Evidence
"Alterna-Rawk infused with The Beatles' brand of Pop yields anthem after anthem... So Little, Close to Nothing sounds so much bigger than a 'basement' recording."
— Rock and Roll Fables ➔
"A rich mixture of spacey songs... that would rival contemporaries such as My Morning Jacket."
— The Indy Review ➔
"A mesmerizing musical experience that is simply divine... Joshua David Thayer has created an instant classic."
— The Whole Kameese ➔
"Catchy and show an experimental tendency... starting to own that identity as a frontman for a project of one."
— Freak Scene ➔
"Kind of like a trip hop meets singer-songwriter track... 'Pulled and Pushed' doesn't sound like much else to come out of Boston in a while."
— If It's Too Loud ➔
"Thayer weaves a tapestry of styles and textures while keeping the collection cohesive. A strong sophomore release."
— Greenfield Recorder ➔