James Truslow is our first Ohio artist on the Countdown this year. In fact, that's two years in a row that a Columbus artist lands at #18, and the 4th time in our 11 year run. Truslow is the front-man of a band that takes his last name, and with very little promotion has several songs with over a million streams on Spotify. Just mention his name in any circle in Ohio, and you'll be able a handful of people who love his music. However, it's been 5 years since the band's last album "Hurricane", and though they have teased a return to recording music this year, they have only released one single which failed to make the Countdown. However, in the interim James himself released a solo worship record, titled Celestial.
Truslow is currently the worship pastor at my church, so I've had the pleasure of seeing him perform live many times and I have to tell you, he is truly the genuine article. Even with that in mind, upon first listen I wasn't quite knocked off my feet by this EP until I reached the final track. "Overwhelmed" starts with a simple piano, some synth twinkles and a light snare drum in the background. In fact, the first few verses really don't leave much of an imprint until the song reaches its crescendo and he screams "unstoppable fires". The second half of the song then becomes an assault on your soul, and every time I listened to the song going forward I had to go back and listen to it again. It is emotional and passionate, and it brings strength to my insides every time I listen to it. It's no surprise that "Overwhelmed" has the most streams of any song on the EP, with just short of 10k. It should be noted that the album had literally no promotion and you can find no content about it on the internet. It simply spread by word of mouth; perhaps the man himself is an unstoppable fire.
Favorite Line: "Oh how you love me, like unstoppable fires"
Title: Overwhelmed
Artist: James Truslow
Album: Celestial
Previous #18s
2018: The Raquels - Just A Txt
2017: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - Fire Escape
2016: House of Heroes - In The End
2015: New Found Glory - Selfless
2014: Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better
2013: Biffy Clyro - Black Chandelier
2012: Santigold - Disparate Youth
2011: House of Heroes - Galveston
2010: Rammstein - Fruhling in Paris
2009: Sick Puppies - I Hate You
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