the integration of grief
Recorded largely in the basement of his Medford home, So Little, Close to Nothing examines the transition of grief from an acute event to a lived condition. Where the debut was rooted in processing profound personal loss, this record looks at what happens after that experience is integrated. “I don’t think anyone ever really moves past or through grief,” Thayer notes. “You just take it on.”
the gestalt of the basement
Thayer performed nearly every instrument himself, including vocals, upright bass, tenor guitar, lap steel, and glockenspiel. The album’s title stems from a line in “Keep the Sun on My Back,” a track that confronts the transience of human life. This record marks a progression from supporting player to frontman, owning an identity as a songwriter that previously felt “compelled from outside hands.”
direct handshake protocol
The album was brought to completion through a continued “Direct Handshake” with Jason Smith (Drums), Mark Alan Miller (Mixing), Nick Zampiello (Mastering), and a guest appearance by Tracy Grammer (Fiddle), expanding on the raw urgency of the debut with richer textures and a deliberate sense of space.
"Joshua David Thayer takes his brilliant musical artistry to a new level with phenomenal new album, “So Little, Close To Nothing.”"— The Whole Kameese
"Joshua David Thayer makes some modern Malkmus, Tweedy on grand alternative folk of So Little, Close to Nothing."— Rock and Roll Fables
"Thayer truly shines sonically in crafting ambient sounds, both obvious and subtle, to achieve a rich mixture of spacey songs."— The Indy Review
"The result is a dozen robust songs that reflect the title of the album: they are searching, sorrowful and sometimes bewildered as Thayer threads his way through a landscape of loss."— Freak Scene
"Overall, a strong sophomore release that shows his growth as an artist."— The Recorder