Redemption's Son

Joseph Arthur

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00007E6WW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,706 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
One of the most promising of Peter Gabriel's Real World label protégés came not from some dusty, Third World village, but from that American tire and rubber mecca, Akron, Ohio. But while Arthur's previous Gabriel-inspired adventures netted him considerable critical kudos and even a ‘99 Grammy nod for his self-created album art, he turns an even neater trick here. The frameworks for Arthur's 16 poetic, alternately introspective and impressionistic songs may be more firmly rooted in traditional folk and singer-songwriter formula than ever, but the influence of Gabriel seems even more pronounced on the album's evocative, often hypnotic sonic textures. Densely layered yet deceptively organic, it's a record of endless production subtleties in service of songs that trickle and dart like a playful stream of consciousness. Whether putting his own peculiar spin on romantic foibles in the dirge-turns-anthem "Favorite Girl," the upbeat energy of "Let's Embrace" and "In the Night," or conjuring more intriguing existential imagery on the fragile "You Are the Dark," Arthur has produced an album that reveals itself anew on every listen. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking Revelation, March 20, 2003

By	lily "book wallah" (in the shadow of the Big Bat) - See all my reviews

When I heard a review of this album on NPR a few months ago, I had to pull over to the side of the road and listen. I'd never heard of Joseph Arthur before, but the strength of his lyrics (what little I heard) made me wonder who he was and where I could find his work. I bought "Some to Where I'm From" and "Redemption's Son" at the same time and am now driving my coworkers crazy with it. I'm not usually the kind of person who slavers over an artist, but I now recommend those two albums to anyone I know who've lost love, faith, or perspective and think about how to get any of those things back. "Honey and the Moon" as well as "Exhausted" spoke to me on a visceral level and "Dear Lord" has converted a few of my friends to Joseph Arthur's introspective style and occasionally creepy imagery.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the year or decade, December 5, 2002

By	Bic "Andy" (United States) - See all my reviews

For those that know Joseph Arthur, this is easily his best album to date..for those that don't let me put it this way. They just don't make albums like this much anymore. A journey of beauty and tension and poetry. He is a master of the art with few equals. I'd trade half my record collection for this one album.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Singer-Songwriter at his best!, May 27, 2003

By	"bluebeddy" (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

I was given this CD as a gift a few months back, and it hasn't left my CD changer since. I would describe Joseph Arthur as a heady mix between Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams. He transitions from the elegant, moody introspection of Buckley to the romping alt-country of Adams in a snap without reason or need for apology. He creates rich harmonies through falcetto and intricate bass lines - you'll find yourself singing along with the opening title-track (which will remind you of David Grey), and not stopping until the closing song: "You've Been Loved". The CD is melancholy and sweet. He's a fantastic lyricist and underrated talent - you won't regret adding this one to your collection.