Flashback .... Discovering New Voices!!

Occasionally you stumble onto something unknown, new and exciting. When you stop and think about it, that's probably how one discovers all their favorites. There had to be an initial experience with all records, sounds, musicians, etc.. Maybe that's what keeps browsing through record stores, reading articles and reviews and listening to the radio so exciting .... The chance each day that you might find something new.

A Saturday evening in Borders Books and Music. Hard to believe that it was almost twenty years ago (1996). I put on the headphones at a random listening station for new music releases. A new name, I had no idea what I was about to hear. I imagine that I did take notice that the recording was on Peter Gabriel's, Real World Records label. Big City Secrets, Joseph Arthur's first record! Using a variety of musical instruments and sounds. I initially assumed from the label association that he was British. There's even something inside that sounds as it was influenced a little by Peter Gabriel. Turned out that he's from Ohio. He's been nothing but prolific since though he's slowed down a little in the past two or three years. Maybe because he always seems to be involved in multiple projects.

He's also a painter!! His work is seen in the cover artwork of several of the albums that followed.

Big City Secrets Review by All Music Guide