REVIEW : Nuclear Daydream - ZBoneman

By The Boneman, Sat Dec 30th, 2006 

Note : 4.5 

Back in Business - Finally! 

Though Joseph Arthur had recorded two LPs before 2000's Come To Where I'm From, it was during the turn of the century that Arthur's fortunes would take a miraculous turn. He was spotted in a New York club by none other than Peter Gabriel and before you could say "Sledgehammer" Come To Where I'm From was tapped by Entertainment Weekly as Album of the Year. Since none of us had so much as heard of him, the record wasn't on any of our lists, but I went right out and bought it and listened to it nonstop over the Holidays that year. I'd just get in my car and drive through the cold grey landscape near Park City Utah and listen to Arthur's stark and melancholy tunes that couldn't have suited the grey winter snowscapes more beautifully. 

Since then Arthur has struggled some to find his footing. Redemption's Son, the follow-up to his breakout success, wasn't a bad record but it contained precious little of the haunting melodic sense that made Come To Where I'm From such a winner. Even more disappointing was 2004s Our Shadows Will Remain that found Arthur in a quandary as to what to do with himself. The Album was purposely aimed at commercial success, with it's handful of programmed, up-tempo ditties that only pulled him further away from his strengths. There were a few strong tracks but only enough to justify the shadowy title, very little of what made him a critical success remained. 

Happily it seems that Arthur has made a concerted effort to circle the wagons and retreat to Helm's Deep and has at long last made a record that can stand beside Come To Where I'm From. Nuclear Daydream is full of the kind of small, mordant gems, that not only resound with winning melodies but lyrics that are vivid sketches that capture both a sense of place as well as emotion. Arthur's gruff, scratchy voice is an acquired taste, but it's the perfect instrument to convey his dark melodies and grave lyrics. Arthur is back in his wheelhouse and it makes for a happy ending to one of the weakest musical years in recent memory.