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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > September > 18
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A Michael Stipe-Approved Artist
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PHOTO CREDIT: Cerise Leang
Michael Stipe of Athens’ rock icons R.E.M. has put his formidable stamp of approval on singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur, who is releasing new CD “Temporary People” Sept. 30.
“Jo is one of those rare writer-performers where you get the sense, whatever your belief, that something greater is being channeled through his music and voice,” Stipe told the Los Angeles Times. “Like Patti Smith, Grant Lee Phillips, Thom Yorke, he trances, and the voice, the meaning, becomes bigger than him, bigger than a few pop chords or words strung together. It touches something very deep and universal.”
(As you may recall, Arthur penned “In The Sun,” the song Stipe did with Coldplay’s Chris Martin to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims).
Are you a fan or Arthur (and the Lonely Astronauts, all pictured above)? Think this kind of tout will direct more attention their way? What recording artist would you like to go to for album recommendations?
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Andre “Dre” Benjamin Going Solo
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometime in 2009, the Atlanta rapper-actor known to some as Andre 3000 will release a solo album.
Or at least that’s what the Grammy winner born Andre Benjamin told Rolling Stone.
There’s no exact release date, or title, he added; but he does have a concept.
“It should be dropping by the end of this year or early next year. [And] I’ve pretty much been working with myself,” Benjamin tells the magazine. “I’ve never really been that big on collaboration. I have a concept, and all the soundscapes are already in my head, so I just have to figure out how to get there.”
Huh? He’s “never really been that big on collaboration”?!
This is a guy who started out in a group (OutKast) and in the two years since that duo’s last CD (“Idlewild,” on which he and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton only can be heard on three songs together) he has made numerous great (“Int’l Players Anthem — I Choose You”, with UGK) and surprising (“Walk It Out” remix, by DJ Unk; “You” remix by Lloyd) featured appearances.
Have a favorite among his guest collaborations? Excited about the news of a solo album from Benjamin? (Isn’t that what “The Love Below” was?) And speaking of which, after the success of “Hey Ya!”, which one would you like more — Dre rapping or singing?
(See a YouTube video of one of Benjamin’s most recent pairings, “Green Light” with John Legend BELOW)
