JOSH JOPLIN

Jaywalker

2005-12-22

Jaywalker is an intriguing departure for the Joplin. Opening track "Mr. New Years Day" is an atypically spirited piece of mature pop/rock, and "Pilgrim's Progress" kicks off with a vaguely Revolver-like blast of trippy guitar. There's an overall sense throughout the album that if Michael Penn were less congenitally mopey, he would sound very much like this, although the Pernice Brothers and Crowded House are also good touchstones, the latter especially on the synth-daubed waltz-time reverie "Empire State," which features an exceedingly Neil Finn-like bridge. Joplin's folk-rock tunes fit the more pop-oriented arrangements nicely, giving the album a bright sheen that doesn't sound cluttered. While it's not a major leap from the Josh Joplin Group albums, Jaywalker is an encouraging move into a new musical direction. –AMG excerpt

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 12/2005

    PRIMARY 5, THE
    North Pole

  • reviewed 06/2007

    FICTION PLANE
    Left Side Of The Brain

  • reviewed 11/2015

    Rob Drabkin
    Live Vol II

  • reviewed 06/2004

    Dave Alvin
    Ashgrove

  • reviewed 05/2008

    THE PROCLAIMERS
    LIFE WITH YOU

  • reviewed 11/2004

    Rufus Wainwright
    Want Two

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.