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 08/2010

    MIKE KEY
    IT'S ABOUT TIME

  • reviewed 03/2007

    THE ICICLES
    Arrivals & Departures

  • reviewed 03/2007

    Leroy Justice
    Revolution's Son

  • reviewed 02/2014

    KEN WILL MORTON
    Slow Down

  • reviewed 08/2016

    Love You
    Sparkle & Crush

  • reviewed 04/2006

    Julia Othmer
    Oasis Motel

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.