REVIEW : Arthur Buck 2 - QRO

Arthur Buck – Arthur Buck 2
by: Ted Chase
October 24, 2025


8.1
Lonely Astronaut, 2025

When singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur teamed up with guitarist Peter Buck (who you might know from a little ol’ band called R.E.M…) as Arthur Buck in 2018 with a self-titled record (QRO review), it would have been easy to just see it is a nice one-off side-project team-up, a good record that would become a footnote in their careers. But seven years later, they’ve gotten back together for the great, affected love of Arthur Buck 2.

With Arthur on lead vocals, the album leans more towards him, in particular his penchant for emotion and vocal effects. With Buck’s strong guitar, that leans more towards some old school axe solos than Buck’s old eighties indie-jangle. Meanwhile, Arthur’s vox effects largely don’t going too far, always an issue with such things (and it’s not like he was gonna be Michael Stipe…). Indeed, they add to the catch of such songs as “Fall In Love With Me” and “Love At First Sight”. Meanwhile, Arthur’s wry & sly side is also well done without being overdone on tracks like opener “Everywhere” and “Sleep With One Eye Open”.

Who knows what the future will bring for Arthur Buck (but who knows what the future will bring for America & the world these days…), but they’ve come back off the sidelines strong.

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