Down-to-earth better describes Jeff Ament than hero, a term he would shrug off with a hearty laugh. He was a music fan who became a music maker. That his music became one of the voices of a generation was a nice surprise that has enabled him to make even more music … and continue to skateboard and play basketball instead of punching a time clock every day of the week.
Watch Wilco’s web exclusive performance of Laminated Cat.
For someone who can put out four EPs in as many months, its no surprise when Brooklyn transplant Joseph Arthur releases a new record. But that level of production doesn't equate to rush jobs or a race to market. Sometimes, as Arthur reminded us recently, 'if you're an open vessel,' it's simply the rapid pace of a frantic, creative mind. So during a brief state of rest, we caught up with Arthur to discuss he latest work.
The Graduation Ceremony grabs the listener from the start with its emotional immediacy, the flow from one beautifully-crafted song to the next. It doesn’t break new ground, specifically; long-time appreciators of Joseph Arthur will find much here reminiscent of past work. For example, the album’s second track bears beautiful memory (and nearly a guitar riff) of his earlier work “Honey and the Moon,” from Redemption’s Son; that song, by this writer’s ear, is a true gem of melodic, folk-inspired pop, and “Horses” successfully follows in its footsteps.
More akin to Crosby Stills and Nash then the recent Monsters of Folk, Fistful Of Mercy play with light and airy textures minus CSN’s political bent. Songs about love dominate as do violins and ultra repetitive choruses that allow the trio to mesh harmonically but never say anything lasting.
Prior to heading out on a massive summer tour, venerable road warriors the Dave Matthews Band announced that they’d be taking all of 2011 off, after twenty straight years of
Being in a rock super group isn’t as unique as it once was as the field of competition just got a little more crowded with the recent unveiling of Fistful
Despite the show’s technical shortcomings, Joseph Arthur proved to be a true professional, giving his all to a small crowd on a Friday night. Lets hope he receives bigger crowds soon – his oversized talent deserves it.
Our Shadows Will Remain is Joseph Arthur
