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 02/2011

    THE APPLES IN STEREO
    Travelers in Space and Time

  • reviewed 04/2013

    BLEACHED
    Ride Your Heart

  • reviewed 08/2008

    BENJI HUGHES
    A Love Extreme

  • reviewed 10/2008

    JOSEPH ARTHUR AND THE LONELY ASTRONAUTS
    Temporary People

  • reviewed 03/2008

    EJ Ouellette and Crazy Maggy
    Row The Bow 5.0

  • reviewed 02/2012

    FIELD MUSIC
    Plumb

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.