Joseph Arthur: Nuclear Daydream
A lot of things almost happen on Nuclear Daydream, the new album from Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur. Leadoff track Too Much to Hide sounds like the Eels or early Beck for the first 60 seconds.

Enough to Get Away comes close to Belle & Sebastian and there is some Neil Young-style harmonica on You Are Free. Unfortunately, after making several stabs at sounding like a lot of other people, the album falls flat under the weight of too much impersonation. What’s left is that radio-friendly adult soft of stuff that just isn’t all that interesting.

A look at his website (www.josepharthur.com) reveals a surprisingly different artist. The rock ’n’ roll references would promise a musician revelling in the roots of Americana, country and 70s rock. And listening to a couple of tunes on the site reveal just that – steel guitar-infused rock ’n’ roll. A shame that none of this rootsy rock shows up on this album.

Rating: ** SM
Download this: Black Lexus

14 October 2007
(from The Post.ie)

JOSEPH ARTHUR - NUCLEAR DAYDREAM
review by Mike Bond, October 2007

"With NUCLEAR DAYDREAM, he continues to diversify and delight, a record that well and truly cements his position as a singer/songwriter of pure brilliance."

The first of two new albums from US singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur, NUCLEAR DAYDREAM is the album that feels like the spiritual follow up to his breakthrough OUR SHADOWS WILL REMAIN.
Like that record, NUCLEAR DAYDREAM acts as a showcase for Arthur's talents as a talented and individual singer/songwriter, though lacking a little of that records polish and sheen. This is a more rough and ready sounding affair, Joseph Arthur obviously more concerned this time round with capturing a looser more live sounding recording session; perhaps a side effect of his incredible live shows during the past couple of years. Opener TOO MUCH TO HIDE feels like a hangover from OUR SHADOWS WILL REMAIN, Arthur in his natural comfort zone of acoustic troubadour, his singer/songwriter persona as effective and intoxicating as ever. BLACK LEXUS finds him covering similar ground, gentle acoustic guitar strums underpinning the songs mesmerising melodic intent perfectly. ENOUGH TO GET AWAY is the sound of Joseph Arthur getting back towards his more louche and lo fi beginnings. Against a rumbling bass line and shimmering guitar work, Arthur croons in that rich lush baritone of his, his distinctive vocals eventually joined by the unexpected addition of a children's choir and swathes of synthesiser.
With SLIDE AWAY, Arthur moves towards a more expansive and far reaching sound, a country tinged ballad that feels much more dynamic and vast than previous records have hinted at; Beatles-esque guitar licks and rich backing vocals lending this a full band feel as opposed to his usual solo artist schtick. The accordion and acoustic guitar combo of YOU ARE FREE is a Dylan-esque slice of pop folk that allows those rich sounding vocals to shine through whilst the more left field AUTOMATIC SITUATION injects processed beats and swathes of synth to proceedings, Arthur moving in very Beck like musical reinvention directions.
Elsewhere here, DON'T TELL YOUR EYES is pretty acoustic folk, DON'T GIVE UP ON PEOPLE a piano led ballad that manages to skillfully merge The Beatles and Elliott Smith and title track NUCLEAR DAYDREAM a chance to hear Joseph Arthur crooning effortlessly over his gentle acoustic strum.
Already one of the most captivating and charismatic live performers you'll come across today, genius songwriter, artist - Joseph Arthur continues to surprise and amaze. With NUCLEAR DAYDREAM, he continues to diversify and delight, a record that well and truly cements his position as a singer/songwriter of pure brilliance.

(from ukmusicsearch)

JOSEPH ARTHUR AND THE LONELY ASTRONAUTS - LET'S JUST BE
review by Mike Bond, October 2007

"a case of Joseph Arthur And The Lonely Astronauts kicking back and having a laugh in the studio rather than committing to a cohesive and coherent record"

The second of two new albums released on the same day from US singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur, LET'S JUST BE is unfortunately the first time round that the usually sublime artist has let his quality control slip. Teamed up with his band, The Lonely Astronaut rather than in his usual solo guise, LET'S JUST BE feels like a self indulgent project from the start, the sound of Arthur having a good time in the recording studio rather than a cohesive and satisfying album.
Opener DIAMOND RING is one of the records better moments, a derivative Stones-esque rock n roller perhaps but at the least a song that highlights the bands potential. SPACEMAN is another of the albums stronger tracks, a sound more akin to his solo work but with the added depth and vision of a living breathing band, discordant guitar squalls and off kilter backing vocals lending the song the personality and attitude to captivate.
GOOD LIFE indulges the bands more avant garde leanings, periods of tuneless noodling lending The Lonely Astronauts the feel of a less talented and less interesting take on Sonic Youth, whilst on the at times excruciating COCKTEEZE, Arthur wails tunelessly over knuckle headed riffing, the sound of a bands very first rehearsals rather than the work of someone capable of the sublime and glorious. The twenty minute plus LONELY ASTRONAUT is the records most self indulgent and pointless moment though, the band again reverting to bad Sonic Youth impersonations, the song running out of ideas less than half way through and the whole thing descending into a dull extended jam session that whilst perhaps funny at three in the morning whilst stoned, makes for incredibly dull and pointless listening in the cold light of day.
Elsewhere LET'S JUST BE constantly veers between the average and the dull, a song like COCAINE FEET attempts to carbon copy the rock n roll excess of Queens Of The Stone Age to disappointing effect, whilst the lo fi rumblings of SHAKE IT OFF is another case of probably fun at the time but not worth committing to tape for prosperity.
As you'd expect with a singer/songwriter as talented as Joseph Arthur, the odd moment of genius still manages to shine through; LACK A VISION is as beautiful and sublime as anything from his solo records, something shared by the equally impressive sounding I WILL CARRY YOU, CHICAGO and STAR SONG.
An ultimately disappointing record, LET'S JUST BE is a lesson in letting your self indulgent urges cloud your usually impeccable judgements; this more a case of Joseph Arthur And The Lonely Astronauts kicking back and having a laugh in the studio rather than committing to a cohesive and coherent record. Still with the odd moment of genius managing to shine through, you can at least manage to salvage the potential at work here; let's just hope that next time round, someone has the sense and taste to exhibit enough quality control to extract that potential more fully.

(from ukmusicsearch)

CD Reviews
By Neil McKay - Sunday, October 07, 2007
(....)

IN A LINE . . . Nuclear Daydream (Lonely Astronaut) is the better of two simultaneously released albums by Joseph Arthur, a Peter Gabriel-endorsed songwriter with talent to burn . . .

(from Belfast Telegraph / Sunday Life)

Joseph Arthur - 'Nuclear Daydream' & 'Let's Just Be'

Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts – 'Let’s Just Be'

‘Let's Just Be’ is one of the two albums Joseph Arthur released on the same day!

This album features a staggering 16 songs, and Joseph and his new backing band The Lonely Astronauts have complete freedom over their material - but is that a good thing?

A good 10 out of the 16 songs are instantly forgettable, leaving you wondering why you’re wasting your time listening to this album. The songs are pretty hazy overall. While some tracks are drug inspired, a few sound as though they were drug fuelled, leaving this album feeling too loose and sloppy.

There are quite a few songs that feature random noises and ‘Lonely Astronaut’ is a good example of this. Sounds rise and fall in no particular pattern, and Arthur doesn’t seem to be paying attention to what’s happening around him.

However, amongst the sloppiness of ‘Yer The Reason’ and ‘Lonely Astronauts’ there are a few gems which stand out like diamonds in a coal mine; such as the gentle paced ‘Take Me Home’ which shows off a different side to Joseph Arthur. It’s a real glimpse into how good this album could have been if only time had been taken and some form of control was put over this record.

So with too much freedom to explore, Arthur seems to have gone off track, but we’re pretty confident he’ll step it up for future albums, and ‘Let’s Just Be’ is a glitch in the road.

Joseph Arthur – 'Nuclear Daydream'

‘Nuclear Daydream’ is slightly shorter than the simultaneously released ‘Let’s Just Be’ featuring only 12 tracks. Unlike ‘Let's Just Be’ this album is made up of steady paced original songs, making it far superior to its partner in crime.

From the opening track ‘Too Much To Hide’, it's clear that this album is going to be a great listen and it lives up to its promise delivering memorable performances in the form of ‘Electrical Storm’ and ‘Woman’. you find yourself being drawn in by Arthur’s voice, and then he’s got you mesmerized.

Suited for a more chilled out day, ‘You Are Free’ is one of the highlights; it would not seem out of place in the hippy infused times of the 60’s as Arthur’s husky vocals are at their best on this melodic song.

‘Nuclear Daydream’ is exactly as the title suggests, mellow and chilled enough to seem like a daydream, while fuelled with bursts of intoxicating darkness.

(from Young Scot)