REVIEW : Let's Just Be - Badger Herald
Arthur CD dabbles in unusual, achieves uninspired sound
by Meghan Dunlap
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Joseph Arthur, who has become a well-known folk-rock and indie-pop performer since his debut more than 10 years ago, achieves lukewarm success through the evolving sounds heard on his newest album Let’s Just Be.
The process of producing an album is something Arthur has become an expert at over the past several years, this being his sixth full-length creation. Although he was already recording demos in his own home back in the early 1990s, his real break came while performing in a local Atlanta club. There he was fortunate enough to be discovered by an associate of Peter Gabriel’s. After hearing his lyrics, Gabriel thought Arthur would be a perfect fit for his label, Real World. From there came his first album Big City Secrets, which was released in 1997. His EP Vacancy earned a Grammy nomination in 1999 and helped get his career going. Since then, he has continued to build his reputation through the use of his music in a multitude of popular TV shows and motion pictures. His songs have been featured on “Dawson’s Creek,” “Scrubs,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “Shrek 2” and many others. His fan base has also grown in response to a touring schedule with A-list musicians including Tracy Chapman and R.E.M.
Formerly a one-man band, Joseph Arthur is moving in a new direction with his newest album having been joined by Kraig Jarret Johnson on the guitar and keyboards, Jennifer Turner on guitar, bassist Sibyl Buck and drummer Greg Wieczorek to form The Lonely Astronauts. As a solo singer and guitar player, Arthur had previously relied on looping and distortion techniques for his live performances, something that some fans say made his stage performance better than his recordings. This is something a full band can help equalize, and it does help — some. Joseph Arthur has been in the music business long enough to build up a good reputation and credibility among his peers. The proof is in his songs that other artists, like Michael Stripe, Chris Martin and Peter Gabriel have chosen to cover. This being said, his latest album is not one that can be enjoyed by everyone. Although the instrumentals are pretty solid and sometimes moving, the lyrics of most of the songs seem pretty uninspired. There are also some unusual things happening with this album, including the song “Good Life,” which ends with a strange, disgusting sound, like a huge snort — a sound effect commonly absent from the list of characteristics people enjoy in their music. Also, how many people really want to sit and listen to a song that lasts for 20 minutes? That is the actual length of “Lonely Astronaut.” Perhaps it is to spotlight the many musical talents of the newly formed band, but that should be evident enough in the 15 other tracks on the album. Let’s Just Be does have some redeeming qualities: Its title track has an interesting rhythm, and there are some songs like “Chicago,” which have nice harmony, but listeners have to endure Arthur’s rather raspy voice, or in the case of “Cockteeze,” high and screechy vocals. Undeniably a talented musician, Joseph Arthur will continue to have success; however, his newest will not appeal to all audiences, and those who take a listen should be prepared to experience something new.
Grade: 2 out of 5
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Joseph Arthur, who has become a well-known folk-rock and indie-pop performer since his debut more than 10 years ago, achieves lukewarm success through the evolving sounds heard on his newest album Let’s Just Be.
The process of producing an album is something Arthur has become an expert at over the past several years, this being his sixth full-length creation. Although he was already recording demos in his own home back in the early 1990s, his real break came while performing in a local Atlanta club. There he was fortunate enough to be discovered by an associate of Peter Gabriel’s. After hearing his lyrics, Gabriel thought Arthur would be a perfect fit for his label, Real World. From there came his first album Big City Secrets, which was released in 1997. His EP Vacancy earned a Grammy nomination in 1999 and helped get his career going. Since then, he has continued to build his reputation through the use of his music in a multitude of popular TV shows and motion pictures. His songs have been featured on “Dawson’s Creek,” “Scrubs,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “Shrek 2” and many others. His fan base has also grown in response to a touring schedule with A-list musicians including Tracy Chapman and R.E.M.
Formerly a one-man band, Joseph Arthur is moving in a new direction with his newest album having been joined by Kraig Jarret Johnson on the guitar and keyboards, Jennifer Turner on guitar, bassist Sibyl Buck and drummer Greg Wieczorek to form The Lonely Astronauts. As a solo singer and guitar player, Arthur had previously relied on looping and distortion techniques for his live performances, something that some fans say made his stage performance better than his recordings. This is something a full band can help equalize, and it does help — some. Joseph Arthur has been in the music business long enough to build up a good reputation and credibility among his peers. The proof is in his songs that other artists, like Michael Stripe, Chris Martin and Peter Gabriel have chosen to cover. This being said, his latest album is not one that can be enjoyed by everyone. Although the instrumentals are pretty solid and sometimes moving, the lyrics of most of the songs seem pretty uninspired. There are also some unusual things happening with this album, including the song “Good Life,” which ends with a strange, disgusting sound, like a huge snort — a sound effect commonly absent from the list of characteristics people enjoy in their music. Also, how many people really want to sit and listen to a song that lasts for 20 minutes? That is the actual length of “Lonely Astronaut.” Perhaps it is to spotlight the many musical talents of the newly formed band, but that should be evident enough in the 15 other tracks on the album. Let’s Just Be does have some redeeming qualities: Its title track has an interesting rhythm, and there are some songs like “Chicago,” which have nice harmony, but listeners have to endure Arthur’s rather raspy voice, or in the case of “Cockteeze,” high and screechy vocals. Undeniably a talented musician, Joseph Arthur will continue to have success; however, his newest will not appeal to all audiences, and those who take a listen should be prepared to experience something new.
Grade: 2 out of 5
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