Originally Published on October 21st, 2025
About the Artist
It’s a really great feeling when I start playing an artist’s music and I’m completely taken by surprise. That’s what happened the first time I listened to J Holmes. It was May of this year and I was getting ready for one of my favorite days, Bandcamp Friday. J Holmes kindly informed me that he was releasing his album, Ballads, and that he was donating the proceeds that were made from the sales of the album. I thought it was really cool so I bought the album and started listening.
A few things to know is J Holmes is an independent artist out of Japan. He is the frontman of a punk band called FVRMN (Fevermoom). Also, Ballads was an incredible roots album.
Read the FMOF Review of Ballads by J Holmes
J Holmes started putting solo music out last year. He released the album Cedarwings earlier this year, which is still one of my favorite listens of the year.
Last month, he released the single FOOLIN’. I was pumped to already have new J Holmes music to listen to but I had no idea it was ahead of a new album.
Read the New Music Friday of FOOLIN’ on CAN!
About the Album
HONEYHORSE is the second LP by Japanese independent artist, J Holmes, and the third multi-track release of 2025. At 10 songs, it runs a little more than 45 minutes and released on October 3rd, 2025 off of Screaming Dagger records.
Upon listening to HONEYHORSE, I think the most surprising thing is the progress and differences from Cedarwings and Ballads. It’s significant because both of those releases also occurred this year. There is still an element of Roots/Americana to this album, but it is going in such an experimental direction. Holmes’ unmistakable baritone has the same delivery but the instrumentation is more in depth already.
One of the most impressive listens of the year for me is the song, The Red Wasp. I think this is the song that every songwriter wishes they could write. Not only is there absolutely nothing wrong with this song, it is so extraordinary that I feel even pretentious for knowing of its existence. With each passing moment, something more impressive builds to the song. The creeping organ, the horns, the staccato electric guitar, all pairing with Holmes’ haunting vocal presence as if the song were a fine-dining experience.
Holmes starts the record strong with the song Blue Jeans. The reverse effect on the electric guitars gives this illusion of a different feel, before coming in with the acoustic. I still hear such a similarity to one of my all-time favorite bands, The National and now, there are parallels to my very favorite band, Bon Iver. I love how Blue Jeans still uses this gentle element of surprise like in The Red Wasp. When the steel/slide guitar comes in, it doesn’t jump out at the listener, scaring them. Instead, it casually strolls out, smoking a cigarette, takes a drag, then makes eye contact with indifference before passively uttering the word, “boo.”
Another favorite of mine is Doll. I love the high tones of the acoustic guitar opening the song, with the slide guitar providing just the right amount of ornamentation. Holmes’ vocals have never been better than how they just absolutely shine on this track. Doll is the epitome of what I think of when I think of “beautiful.”
Final Thoughts
The bittersweet thing about Fifteen Minutes of Fame is I often feel like I am a member of this secret club that gets to experience music that most of the world has no idea exists. I get this experience that is just for me and it’s one of my favorite parts of my life. I cherish the music I’ve heard, the artists I’ve met, and the relationships we’ve forged.
That’s the sweet. The bitter is, I am not a selfish person and I don’t want to celebrate this music all alone. I want everybody to listen to HONEYHORSE. I think it’s an extraordinary album. I don’t think just anybody can throw this together. There isn’t any subtlety in this music. There isn’t anything that would allude to J Holmes being an inexperienced musician.
This is fantastic music. This is an incredible album; each moment more memorable than the last. It is well thought out, it is touching, and it is instrumentally impressive. It’s an instant playlist add for me and I think it would be for most people who listened to it.
Be one of those people. Join my club. Go press play!
Go BUY this album! Check it out on his Bandcamp profile!
Fifteen Minutes of Fame Music Entertainment 
Leave a comment