ALBUMS: Temporary People (2008) Limited Edition
MVC Rating: 4.0; $$$$$
Arthur is one of my favorite artists. I feel like he has somehow channeled some of the best of my 678 vinyl records and re-created them, absorbed all their influences. Dylan, Stones, Beatles, Lou Reed, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Small Faces, Byrds, Bad Company, Donovan, Cat Stephens, the Replacements, Violent Femmes.
This is that A-music artist I mentioned in my previous post that somehow got stuck in the C-section.
He has channeled a lot of music and culled the good stuff. He copies and creates. He can write hits. He can write and perform alternative to alternative. He has, I heard, worked in a record store or was it guitar store? Either way makes sense.
He’s so prolific, I feel like he needs to slow down. His lyrics dip close to cliche but then swing back to poetry: I need to smell your dad’s cigar in the ashtray as you wrote in Redemption Son. That’s concrete; it immediately brings me to where you are at. The cigar summons the ghost.
But, I mean this with all love. There’s something about his tremendous musicianship, his bass to falsetto vocal delivery. He makes beautiful and cathartic songs. I hope he finds that thing that will take it even higher.
‘Cause I been caught in between all I wish for and all I need’
Yes, that’s us. All of us. Good line.
I’ have lot of Arthur on digital. This is my only vinyl record of him. His body of work occurred in the CD era, so I appreciate this album. Here’s a couple videos that only give you a glimpse. Also below is a lyric so simple but so sad. Don’t know if it would help.
If you’re gonna leave, you should say goodbye
You should say goodbye
You should say goodbye
Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.