Joe Rohan

Joe Rohan's These Days opens, simply enough, on the blue-toned but frothy "Desert Love." It's a bit fluffy, but Rohan's denim-comfortable voice and comfortable blues-rock style glide smoothly in to the deeper and darker thoughts of "Lovestruck Romeo."

With each track layering on new layers of complexity, Rohan's songs develop a magnetic pull. Each song becomes a little deeper, a little more complicated and a little more solid. "These Days" begins to take a definite form, with Rohan's blues tendencies coming through more strongly. By the midpoint of the album, Rohan's sometimes wild flights of feeling focus to laser sharp images and solid, fleshy women. The click of bootheels on deserted roads is almost audible in "James Dean," while "Angeline" swings harmonica hips in rocking rhythm to a hopeful lover's musical plea. "Cold Winter Day" wraps its slow blue notes around the bones and lifts the spirits towards a cold, watery light with the gospel call of a Hammond organ.

But just as Rohan's sound is at its bluest and deepest, his words achieving an almost physical solidity, he reverses the force of the album. "Pair of Horses" carries These Days back into the open sky, with a winding open tune that has more than a touch of wandering folk to it. "Ring of Fire" is what it has to be, a free, galloping tune barely held in check by its own insistent rhythm. "The Moon" ends the album back in the dreaming, malleable stream of consciousness territory where it began.

These Days is a hypnotic album with the dark lure of an unexplored cave and the unexpected pull of an undertow. Like a sweet romance with a melancholy ending in sight, it's hard to resist.

- Rambles.net

“Joe Rohan somehow successfully walks the intersection of blues, rock and country without losing his musical identity along the way. Buoyed by his powerful voice, Rohan drips confidence in his material, delivering a range of styles that cuts through blues-washed country, heartland rock and harmony-driven folk, while always keeping his focus on the integrity of each song.” - Cleveland Magazine

“From this collection of songs, Rohan obviously knows what sounds good and for him that is simplicity. Instead of adding layers of instruments, the heart of all the songs is Rohan’s voice and his guitar in the true idea of country and blues. Walk Along is sometimes melodic and something serious but it is always endearing.” - Plugin.com

“The hard-driving roots rocker "One More" is one of the best new songs you'll hear this year -- from anybody, not just some local drummer on his maiden voyage as a solo act.” - Cleveland Scene

Sometimes there's nothing better than a dose of good old heartland rock. Cleveland's Joe Rohan is like a more honey-voiced John Mellencamp with a supple falsetto added. Sharp production makes a polished place-setting for Rohan's strong tenor voice, and the arrangements feature just enough keyboard licks and crisp funkiness to suggest a blue-eyed, countrified kind of soul - smooth-as-silk.

- Jon Sobel - Blog Critics

Shawn Colvin, John Gorka, the early 90s -- a particularly fertile period for singer-songwriter types -- all come to mind upon first hearing Joe Rohan's second release "These Days." Comparisons could also be made to more contemporary aritists such as Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, and Train, especially to Train's "Meet Virginia" or their mega hit "Drops of Jupiter." What "These Days" lacks, however, is the production to bring what Rohan's doing up to date. Perhaps this is why the tracks with the most bare bones production are the standouts. Rohan shines his brightest and comes off his most original on the brief and poignant "James Dean." The simple, modest acoustic guitar accompaniment allows the song to breathe and Rohan's personality to emerge. The groovy "Lovestruck Romeo," with its bluesy acoustic riff and soulful vocal, also manages to escape sounding dated and is one of the best songs on "These Days." While the production on "These Days" breaks no new ground, it must be said that the musicianship is highly competent and the performances flawless. Curtis Leonard's guitar, Scott Smith's harmonica, and Mark Leach¹s Hammond B3 accent and flavor "These Days" throughout, keeping things interesting. The most, as they say, radio friendly track is probably "So Many Eyes," a driving, rock tune that displays best Rohan's obvious pop sensibilities. The drive present on "So Many Eyes," as well as on all tracks with drums, is provided by none other than Rohan himself. Rohan also contributes tasteful dobro and keyboards to "These Days." A truly talented artist.
© Chip O'Brien
- Minor 7th

Joe Rohan's music recalls long drives down empty highways past verdant fields, ancient full-service gas stations and Mom-and-Pop hole-in-the-wall food stops.

The Cleveland singer-songwriter calls his music "roots rock." Translation: It's a mesh of pop, rock and country with touches of the Delta and the Appalachians through the use of slide guitars and dobros. It's comfortingly old and familiar, in the same way John Mellencamp's music is.

The songs off his latest CD, These Days, is filled with tales of love lost and found — but mainly lost. It's not earth-shattering stuff, but it's honest and sincerely delivered. Which is a darned sight more — and better — than what you'd find in the mainstream currently.

Standout tracks: These Days, Cold Winter Day and a gutsy cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire (gotta give Rohan credit for the attempt alone, but his arrangement sounds like a no-holds barred bar anthem). - Clarion Ledger

What immediately struck me about this CD (okay so maybe I do have an initial impression) were the Train and Edwin McCain vibe present in Rohan's vocals. Joe delivers the strong presence of a guy that sounds like he's been singing his entire life. With a style that varies from the standard singer/songwriter to bluesy ballads, pop rocker, and occasional country twangs, Rohan untangles his stories of relationships, love and longing with effortless grace. I haven't formed an opinion yet as to his caffeinated version of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" - personally finding it dangerous to tread near such legendary songs - but I get the impression of respect and adoration as opposed to any attempt at cashing in. (Pun not intended.) So, if you're a fan of soulful singer/songwriters, you could do a lot worse than finding your way to These Days. - Score Rocks

Joe Rohan is a country/blues artist and he is really good. I don’t
really listen to a lot of country and blues music. So this really took
me by surprise His album These Days is a good blend of country and blues music. The first track Desert Love is a good slice of country music. It is really feel good, catchy, beautiful harmonies and good musicianship with good lyrics, well written and good melodies to top it off and what a country song should be. His singing really shines in this song. Lovestruck Romeo is a laid-back feel good song with good melodies, and good guitar playing with a good guitar solo and all. It feels like a good blues song should. These Days is a really good song so catchy, harmonies with good melodies and just enjoyable listen to and Joe Rohan song writing really shines here. Blown Away is a great song that I could find on radio with beautiful lyrics, it laid back melodies and Joe vocals really shine thru out the song and so does his song writing skills also. I really enjoyed this song. James Dean reminded of the song Virginia by Train with acoustic guitars, good vocals and it’s feel good nature of the song. It is really a good laid back blues song that is some how really moving. So Many Eyes is another great country song that is really catchy and gets you tapping. It is good because he really shines here with song writing, good musicianship and the good guitar playing. The keyboard is an excellent touch to the song. In no time you will be singing a long just like I did. Angeline is another great song that really shines with Joe vocals and it’s laid-back country/blues feel. You know he is putting his and heart soul thru out this song. He knows how to write a good song and this is one of those songs that really show it. The Harmonica has been really used well here. Cold Winter Day is a blues song and it is good. The harmonica is used well here, as this is a funky laid back song that will have you nodding your head in no time. As always Joe vocals are good. Pair Of Horses is a nice song that really works well. It reminds me off that Willy Nelson song with Ray Charles with it slow moving country feel good sensibilities. Joe sings with all his heart in this song and really shows. Another highlight off the album for me, He is a good singer and he really shines here. So beautiful and heartfelt and I really liked it. Ring Of Fire is a Johnny Cash song and Joe covers it here and is really damm catchy and got me tapping in my seat as I listen to. It has really good musicianship and really shines thru out. Joe does the cover justice. Je sings it really well. The Moon is the last song on the album is a nice slow moving country song with just Joe and his guitar and Harmonica, which really shines here. I really thought this was a great album and I not listening to a lot of country music it made an impression with me. I hope some one recognises what a good talent Joe Rohan is and snap him up. If you like country music then you should check this out. Highly recommend by me.
- Pure Grain Audio