Big City Secrets

Joseph Arthur | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Real World
• ASIN: B000000HPS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,821 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Songs Include : Big City Secret / Mercedes / Mikel K / Good About Me / Daddys On Prozac / Marina / Birthday Card / Crying Like A Man / Porcupine / Dessert / Haunted Eyes / Bottle Of You

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Moody Music, April 8, 2001

By 

Kevin Barrack (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big City Secrets (Audio CD)

This album instantly converted me into a Joseph Arthur fan. The melodies are totally original and the production is refreshing, offering a good mix of electronic and standard rock sounds.

The thing that makes this album stand out though, is the fantastic lyrics. They are sincere, written about Joseph Arthur's personal experiences, rather than attempting to appeal to a huge and anonymous demographic. Topically, they are original perspectives on classic topics such as lost love, depression, anger, and regret. Some of the songs are intensely personal, such as "Daddy's on Prozac". These songs are moody, but less moody overall than his later albums.

This is music for adults, and for anyone looking for great song writing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real World, July 11, 1998

By 

Edward Leber (Eugene OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big City Secrets (Audio CD)

I discovered this disk by accident. It grabbed my atention because of its Peter Gabriel connection. However, it stands well on its own. Certain of the songs speak of, for want of a better term, Urban Dysfunction. The songs evoke comfortably nostalgic angst and address personal issues of the modern age. There are digressions into atonality that are problematic (Re. Dessert). But overall, this album is a worthy experiment in urban folk music and well worth the buying.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great new talent, October 28, 1998

By 

Michael Toland (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big City Secrets (Audio CD)

A near-stunning debut by an impressive new talent. Though it was recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World studios and certainly bears his influence in the cloudy, atmospheric production, Arthur is definitely his own man, essaying a unique urban folk music with unusual hooks and passionate vocals. Take a chance on this one - you won't regret it.