As the meaning behind their label name suggests (a rough translation from Spanish as 'hill view') Loma Vista has climbed to the summit of today's musical landscape, engaging and representing a sweeping range of the most popular scenes and genres of today. Through the recording process, Joji has unlocked an ambitious new sound and style that’s uniquely his own. I got this in hopes of upgrading my copy of Ballads1 because that one is also shit, but now I got two heaps of shit. Each song deals with the struggle of change—leaving toxic environments, grappling with temptations, or refusing to change—and serve as reminders to Joji to be comfortable with his own growth.

Ballads 1 Exclusive Limited Edition White Color Vinyl Joji ‎– Ballads 1 Exclusive Limited Edition White Color Vinyl

His first full-length studio album, BALLADS 1, is, simply put, a collection of ballads dedicated to the theme of change. Now reissued, not for the first time, on an indie exclusive version via GLXY, Joji is more than living his introspective side down. Worth the money if you really want it on vinyl, but it doesn't come with any extras, liner notes, or anything except a printed inner sleeve.My record came with shards of something on it, I can't tell if it's from the edges of the paper sleeve or the edge of the record itself (which came noticeably jagged, and I was able to clean it up more by giving it a light rub against a cloth). It's pretty quiet, the packaging was nice as well; very happy they didn't use a plain, white sleeve for the record. I wouldn't class them as excellent, but then again I don't really know what my definition of excellent would be. The problem with the record is not the fault of the pressing plant, but the mastering of the songs themselves.

BALLADS 1 Joji - BALLADS 1

In previous lives as Filthy Frank + Pink Guy, he rode the wave of viral sensationalism, but here he takes on a more somber, contemplative persona.Was looking through the Joji Subreddit and found out this pressing was supposed to be gold instead of white. The sleeve itself was a significant improvement from the crappy low-definition JPEG that was on the back of the "In Tongues" record, and despite being quite minimal, it worked very well. The spine was centred, the material was tough, the inner sleeve was printed this time and not a generic paper one, and had a doodle by Joji printed on one side (scanned incredibly well, it looks amazing in 12"! BALLADS 1 also reflects Joji’s evolution as an artist since the release of his debut EP In Tongues in November 2017. Joji (George Miller) debuted his first album-length solo project Ballads 1 in 2018, after reviving the formerly semi-private moniker whose first incarnation could originally only be found on YouTube.

ballads 1 (clear urban outfitters vinyl) : r/VinylReleases joji - ballads 1 (clear urban outfitters vinyl) : r/VinylReleases

As for common Urban Outfitters flaws there aren't many on this release expect on Track 3: "Test Drive" . Really wanted to like this but the sound in this is not good, the tracks that have deep base don’t sound great and my copy skips on the first track fresh out of the wrapping. Many of the tracks have a lofi filter or distortion effects applied to them that could be mistaken for surface noise.

In 2022, following on the heels of the 2X Platinum single “Glimpse of Us”, Joji released his latest album SMITHEREENS, which expands on the powerful emotions of the breakout hit. Joji defies convention--his songs characterized by down tempo, melancholic themes and soulful vocals, layered over lush grimy textures, blending elements of trap, folk, electronic, and R/B. In June 2023, following sold-out shows at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City and The Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Joji announced the PANDEMONIUM North American Tour which hits arenas this Fall. This pressing came with a noticeably high noise floor (present during quiet parts and transitions as well, so no this isn't a lo-fi effect filter), which was reduced with a good wet cleaning but still much higher than usual.