Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts - Temporary People

Genre rock Publisher Lonely Astronaut

Who would have guessed Joseph Arthur hails from Akron, Ohio.  If you look at his art or listen to his music, it would seem as though Joseph was a nomad picking up gems from all over the world to incorporate into his various art forms.  Joseph Arthur is known to be prolific, but 2008 has proven to be exceptionally inspired.  Musically, the year has yielded four EP’s and now the full-length album with collaborators The Lonely Astronauts.  

Now, for more information about the cast of The Lonely Astronauts; Jen Turner and Kraig Johnson are on guitars and keyboards, Sibyl Buck plays bass, and Greg Wieczorek plays drums.  The troupe began playing together in the summer of 2006 as a touring band for Joseph.  The group is rumored to have produced 80 songs in their first summer together.  Sixteen of those 80 songs ended up on the group’s first recording together Let’s Just Be.  Temporary People is their second album together.

With so much being created so quickly, one would expect the music to be sloppy or haphazard.  This is not the case with Temporary People. Instead the album feels familiar and comfortable, like a pair of warm winter socks.  In the title track, Joseph says, "there must be 25 different people living inside me".  Each of those characters will appeal in some way to listeners.  One of the people in him might be related to Jakob Dylan.  Joseph’s vocal abilities are reminiscent of the Wallflowers' front man and the band as a whole could be compared to the group as well.  

It is definitely worthwhile to delve deeper into several of tracks on the album.  'Faith' is a simple, eloquent rock song that will get you groovin' as will the song 'Winter Blades'.  The lyrics to 'Look Into The Sky' are short on words but full of depth.  You will want to play this one over and over.  The song 'Heart's a Soldier', a song about drug use, is a roller coaster.  From a brooding sound at its depths it soars up and at its heights sounds a bit like gospel.  "Go on...show a little faith in me".  

The one song on the album that really misses is 'Dream Is Longer Than The Night'.  It should have been called 'Song is Longer Than Deserves Attention'.  Even though the song is only a little over two minutes long, it is a strong departure from the feel of the album and doesn't fit.  Most of the remainder of the album is solid and should have widespread appeal.  Joseph Arthur And The Lonely Astronauts find a way to make artful music and lyrics feel like instant classics.  There is nothing temporary about this talent.