Customer Reviews

Come to Where I'm From

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

try this beautiful album. Arthur has never seemed to pay attention to musical trends; he doesn't write catchy jingles; he's not buffed; he doesn't sport any cool tattoos. At least none that I've seen. What he does do is create some of the most powerful, haunting songs I've heard. If he lives long enough, I think people will sling his name around with people like Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, and Ben Harper. This album puts JA in that league. (Don't trust the audio samples on the page here-- they sound awful).

I caught his live show in LA last week, which confirmed my impression: there's nothing fluffy about Arthur, nothing impressive but the music (and his art, esp. his painted guitars), and the music is all that matters.

This is a gorgeous album, up there with Jeff Buckley's Grace and the Flaming Lips the Soft Bulletin.

...is very special. It doesn't sit in within the alphabetical section; rather it sits on top -- close to my CD player.

I refuse to say an album/band is an all-time favorite. Too much depends upon one's mood, but if *did* you ask me; this album would have to cross my mind.

I first heard of Joseph Arthur on an NPR interview -- simply an unexpected surprise. The bits from the release were teasingly short. In the interview, much was discussed on the live show, something I've yet to see, but looked forward to with great interest. Damage was done - I ordered the CD.

The full spectrum of human emotion is explored on "Come to Where I'm From". Fall seems so appropriate background to this. Complete with angst, with wit and a sense that something better is within our grasp. This isn't Joseph Arthur baring his soul; this is a mirror to yours. This freezes your attention - holds you. How do you feel when someone touches you in way that makes you feel vulnerable? This is Poetry in every sense.

The lyrics alone would stand alone as poetry of the highest order, except when it's so well match by the music and melody. I'd walk you through the tracks, but it would take away from the beauty of it. You'll find your favorites on this release - I defy you to listen to this CD more than once without feeling something new.

John

I first heard Joseph Arthur on a college station, it was a live, acoustic version of In the Sun. I thought to myself, "what a beautiful song... there's someone who truly understands." Later on I heard History and Exausted from the same live performance, and that's when I knew I had found a true treasure. Every once in awhile I hear a song that touches me so deep, reflects my deepest, darkest feelings so perfectly that while listening, I feel better simply because someone else knows... understands. The thing about this CD is that it is full of those types of songs. I would suggest this CD to anyone who has trouble understanding why they feel so terribly bad sometimes, it may offer some insight. The only reason I do not give this CD 5 stars is because I prefer the stripped down acoustic versions as opposed to the strange mix of sounds that accompany the lyrics on this CD, although once I had gotten past the inital listening phase the music does complement the lyrics of each song, and I may be biased because I heard the live, acoustic versions first. But all in all, an outstanding CD... I can't really compare it to anything, except to say that his insightful, introspective lyrics put him up there with the best of the mope genre. Highly recomended.

Joseph Arthur doesn't fit in a box. He has his own, changing constantly, freeing himself all over again.
Some call him a singer songwriter, some indie, others plain artist (he often does his own cover and booklet art).
Whatever you decide to call him, he is an extremely talented musician. Beautiful melodies, haunting lyrics.
Rest assured, once you've opened up to his music it doesn't let go. I bought his first album Big City Secrets back in 1996 and have been a fan since. Every new album is a surprise (thank God he found a record company who allows him the freedom). What is he doing this time, what has he come up with, who is he working with?
On this album amongst others: T Bone Burnett, Jim Keltner, Ben Findley. Twelve great songs by Joseph Arthur.
And if you have the chance to see him live, take it. Just don't expect to hear the songs the way they are on the album. Joseph will most definitely surprise you once again.
A true musician with all his heart and every cell in his body.

Is there a 12 step program to help me kick the Joseph Arthur habit? "Come to Where I'm From" is quickly becoming one of those CD's that takes over my life. I wasn't convinced after the first listen that Arthur was anything special. Then one by one, each song started to get under my skin. Now I'm finding it difficult to listen to anything else. And forget leaving the house without this! Even the short ride to work becomes an adventure with this in the CD player. "Come to Where I'm From" has everything I'm looking for in music; intelligent, clever lyrics, unusual instrumentation and sounds,haunting melodies and harmonies. I like his vocal range - clear to whiney to raspy. It does something for me. There's a lot going on here. Each track has a unique sound and feel. I love them all and I discover something new with each listen. Arthur's artwork on the CD case is a plus too. The only problem with finding music this good is that you can't wait for more.

Unfortunately, I'm just now becoming familiar with Joseph Arthur. Thank God I happened upon 120 minutes on MTV the other night. (Amazing but true, it's still on the air). Oh how I wish I had known of him years ago!

J.A. has a tremendous amount of talent. I generally don't like drawing comparisons between artists. However, to me his work is reminiscent of Spain (adding the luxury of lyrics which continually leave me astonished by his ability) while favoring experimental similarity to Beck. "In the Sun" and "Tattoo" are two of the most beautiful pieces I've heard in ages. I've decided I relate to "Chemical" a little too well for my own good. It is addictive in its own right.

So, the question is what can I do while sitting on these pins and needles awaiting J.A.'s performance for CMJ? I believe I'll begin by discovering his previous work in order to fill the void left by my former ignorance. Do yourself a favor, learn from my regret and buy this!

The songs on this album were the first I heard of Joseph Arthur and I was immediately mesmerized. A few were on the soundtrack for "Hell's Kitchen" with Angelina Jolie and Rosanna Arquette and when I heard them I had to know who it was. Joseph Arthur is haunting, for lack of better words. I've noticed lately, he's going a little more mainstream, which is slightly disappointing. But I think he's incredibly talented and I would definitely recommend this album.

Before I knew 'In the Sun' by it's proper name, I knew it as 'that song from the Echo, Davidoff Advert'. I then heard it again in a film, 'Saved'. It's such a beautiful song. Easily the best on the album, which is worth buying for this song alone. It's a song you'll want to play with the rain pouring down outside whilst drinking a cup of tea and wearing you comfy sweater, over and over, and over...

Chris 21 Manchester,United Kingdom

Have you ever been driving your car, arrived at your destination, and just stayed in your car until the song on the stereo ended?

I was listening to "Come to Where I'm From", got to where I was going and stayed in my car until the whole CD ended. I then listed to the first track "In the Sun" one more time for good measure.

People who saw me in the car for 30 minutes might have thought I was crazy. I'm not. I was affected. If you buy this CD, you will be, too. "If I find my way, how much will I find?" sings Arthur. This CD may not help you find your way, but it sure will make you think about things once you get there.

I can't wait until his next CD, or my next ride in the car.

This Peter Gabriel's new protege has been compared to many kings of the mope: Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Joe Henry... and these comparisons are not out of context at all. Even some influences of Peter Gabriel can be heard here.

However, my comparision might be a little more daring than all of the mentioned. The year 2000 claimed for a new Steven Patrick Morrissey to call its own, and was very impatient to wait for the breakup of Belle and Sebastian, Travis, or any other of those bands compared to The Smiths (Will they produce a new Moz in that case, anyway?). So, Joseph Arthur, in spite of belonging to a new and powerful generation of "mopers" with intelligent lyrics (along with Elliott Smith, Cat Power, Dianne Izzo, and some others), seems to have all the requirements to be the (possibly) only and legitimate inheritor of Morrissey's post-Smithsonian legacy.

Not only Arthur shares with Moz a clever and witty way to write histories about loneliness, heartbreaks, despair and intimate happennings (Joseph only excludes Moz's sexual ambiguity from his book of themes), but also his way of singing; while not sharing Steven's distinctive silky, croony pitch, he does share the same statement of passion and intensity that lets us feel every word's feelings.

In what Arthur differs with Morrissey, nonetheless, is in the fact that he does write his own music and plays almost all of his instruments. But he does not let that to be an excuse for a huge ego. Instead, our guy is smart enough to ask for help to such great tallents as T-Bone Burnett (Sam Phillips, U2) for production, and Markus Dravs, (Bjork, Peter Gabriel), for programming. The result is an undeniably delicious and eclectic record with poetic and brutally honest songs.

"Ashes Everywhere" is the theme with more folky feeling, but constructed in a very delicate way. In the same style, but with more rhythma and an Nick Cave-ish violence, is "Creation or a Stain". we find "Chemical" is a heme that easily could sound in any Beck record, due to its mixture of folk and modern techno rhythms. "Exausted"'s music is the answer to Richard Ashcroft's "New York" melodies, with more rock and less technology. "Invisible Hands" seems a song originalli written written by Mark Sandman (who himself has had a heavy influence of Leonard Cohen), but adapted to Joseph's way. The rest, are beautiful songs which recall some of the best work of Nick Drake ("Cockroach"), Morrissey ("Eyes on My Back", "Tatoo" ) and sometimes both within the same song ( Just listen to " In The Sun", and the beautiful ballad "History").

In a few words, Joseph Arthur might have now the recognizement that his tallent deserves... And everybody besides me, sees him as Morrissey's American counterpart (or, if you prefer, the next Morrissey).