James Keith brings an upbeat country-rock spirit to I Call It Magic When I’m With You, a fourteen-track album celebrating the joys and uncertainties of lasting love. Blending twangy guitars, big rock riffs, and a warm, husky delivery, the Australian singer-songwriter balances feel-good anthems with heartfelt reflections on romance, distance, and the everyday moments that make life meaningful.
“Life Is Good Today” is a rousing, brightly impactful album opener, shifting between string-laden exuberance and the more guitar-laden narration in the verses. “Whatever it is inside that makes you feel the way you do,” Keith’s delivery resonates, then musing on the simple things in life that bring delight — whether it’s playing a country song, having your first kiss, or heading to a show. The beckoning to “live in the moment, because life is good today” is poignantly effective, commencing the release with carpe-diem charm. The ensuing “She’s Worth the Wait” channels an appreciation for love, with twangy guitars bolstering a lead presence guiding to a title-bearing proclamation, catching in its “waiting my whole life” anticipation and culminating “she’s worth the wait” refrain.
A standout single, “Cruel Game” is stirringly dynamic in its range of guitar work, spanning from initial soulful, late-night emotion to expressive twangy briskness. “When I look into your eyes,” Keith’s lead presence moves amidst the moody verses, with a free-flowing guitar solo driving into the “it’s worth fighting for” vigor, playing similarly to “She’s Worth the Wait” in capturing the worthwhile, powerful nature of true love. Elsewhere, “Living This Life” is similarly celebratory in its “when you’re in my arms” smitten sentiments, aspiring to “spend them with you” in reference to good times. The album consistently envelops in its appreciation for life, here conveyed in the “sun’s out on a winter day” setting of having loved ones close and creative juices flowing.
“She Don’t” compels as well, exuding a sort of Tom Petty-esque charm in its title-bearing refrain and subsequent “me and the boys” recollections in the verses. The shifts from revelry to a focus on a chance meeting are captivating, with the anthemic guitar ascent just prior to the one-minute mark being especially engaging. Next up, “This Life” excels with an initial acoustic-friendly timelessness, then complemented by playful clap-laden rhythms as Keith ruminates on anticipating “a hell of a life.” “Gonna love my baby, gonna treat her right,” he lets out, exuding a knack for love and gratitude within consistently melodic nuggets throughout I Call It Magic When I’m With You, a thorough full-length success from James Keith.
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