Indie pop of the highest order
Andre Heeger | Germany | 05/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joseph Arthur doesn't fit in a box. He has his own, changing constantly, freeing himself all over again.
Some call him a singer songwriter, some indie, others plain artist (he often does his own cover and booklet art).
Whatever you decide to call him, he is an extremely talented musician. Beautiful melodies, haunting lyrics.
Rest assured, once you've opened up to his music it doesn't let go. I bought his first album Big City Secrets back in 1996 and have been a fan since. Every new album is a surprise (thank God he found a record company who allows him the freedom). What is he doing this time, what has he come up with, who is he working with?
On this album amongst others: T Bone Burnett, Jim Keltner, Ben Findley. Twelve great songs by Joseph Arthur.
And if you have the chance to see him live, take it. Just don't expect to hear the songs the way they are on the album. Joseph will most definitely surprise you once again.
A true musician with all his heart and every cell in his body."
Very good early album
Luke P Narlee | Baltimore, MD United States | 10/02/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is the latest cd of his that I have bought since becoming a fan. It is very good, although I can't say I find it more enjoyable than his newer ones. But it's still pretty adicting. There is a good mixture of different types of music in here but it's not as extreme as redemptions son. HIs voice is more rough and grough sounding here also than on any other cd, but most of the time is sounds very good. In my opinion the first song "in the sun" makes this cd worth the price of admission alone, it's definitly a classic. But anyways, rather than rank each song one by one I would rather say that I pretty much can split these songs up into three categories. Fun/pop, slow/dark/seious, and signature Joe Arthur sound (being mostly him and his guitar singing about previous relationships that usually make for his most popular songs. Here is how I split them up:
Fun pop songs) Chemical, history, cockroach, exhausted and tattoo.
Slow/dark/serious) Invisible hands, eyes on my back, and The real you.
Signature Joseph) In the sun, ashes everywhere and speed of light
*Creation or a stain is in a class all it's own where he sort of raps, or sings fast. Think of subturanean homesick blues updated.
Well know you know what to expect at least, it's an enjpyable album, but doesn't stick with you like others. At least it didn't with me.
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