Josh Joplin
Josh Joplin Group was an American Georgia-based pop music band led by singe… Read Full Bio ↴Josh Joplin Group was an American Georgia-based pop music band led by singer-songwriter Josh Joplin. Joplin, a self-proclaimed "dork" who nonetheless dropped out of school in tenth grade to become a folk singer like his hero Phil Ochs, brought the group its trademark combination of introspective lyrics, folk-rock melodies, and lead vocals that, to many, sound identical to those of R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe (to the point that one Joplin song, "Happy at Last," begins, "I sound like Michael Stipe and I dream like Carl Jung").
After releasing two independent albums (Boxing Nostalgic and Projector Head) under the name Josh Joplin Band, the group signed to Artemis Records and released Useful Music in 2000. Produced largely by Shawn Mullins, the album received strong reviews but failed to make much commercial impact. It did, however, spawn a mild hit in "Camera One," a thoughtful exploration of depression and superficiality. Featuring a more rock-edged, radio-friendly sound than most of the material on Useful Music, the song peaked at #22 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart in 2001, and was featured in an episode of the comedy series Scrubs (season 1, episode 7, "My Super Ego").
In September 2002, Josh Joplin Group released its second major-label album, The Future That Was. On this record, Joplin's lyrics were noticeably more clever and playful than on Useful Music, with subject matter including the nature of popularity ("The Wonderful Ones"), the absurdity of snobbery among music lovers ("It's Only Entertainment"), and the uselessness of trying to predict the future ("The Future That Was"). The musical styles were similarly varied, ranging from slow piano- and acoustic guitar-driven pop to upbeat keyboard- and electric guitar-based rock.
Like its predecessor, The Future That Was received critical acclaim but sold poorly. Artemis released two singles from the album, "I Am Not the Only Cowboy" and "Wonder Wheel," but neither one took off. In the fall of 2003 the band announced that it was breaking up and would play its final two shows in Atlanta in December of that year.
On August 23, 2005, Joplin released a solo album, Jaywalker, on Eleven Thirty Records.
After releasing two independent albums (Boxing Nostalgic and Projector Head) under the name Josh Joplin Band, the group signed to Artemis Records and released Useful Music in 2000. Produced largely by Shawn Mullins, the album received strong reviews but failed to make much commercial impact. It did, however, spawn a mild hit in "Camera One," a thoughtful exploration of depression and superficiality. Featuring a more rock-edged, radio-friendly sound than most of the material on Useful Music, the song peaked at #22 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart in 2001, and was featured in an episode of the comedy series Scrubs (season 1, episode 7, "My Super Ego").
In September 2002, Josh Joplin Group released its second major-label album, The Future That Was. On this record, Joplin's lyrics were noticeably more clever and playful than on Useful Music, with subject matter including the nature of popularity ("The Wonderful Ones"), the absurdity of snobbery among music lovers ("It's Only Entertainment"), and the uselessness of trying to predict the future ("The Future That Was"). The musical styles were similarly varied, ranging from slow piano- and acoustic guitar-driven pop to upbeat keyboard- and electric guitar-based rock.
Like its predecessor, The Future That Was received critical acclaim but sold poorly. Artemis released two singles from the album, "I Am Not the Only Cowboy" and "Wonder Wheel," but neither one took off. In the fall of 2003 the band announced that it was breaking up and would play its final two shows in Atlanta in December of that year.
On August 23, 2005, Joplin released a solo album, Jaywalker, on Eleven Thirty Records.
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Josh Joplin Lyrics
A Hard Year The sky is the color Of white-hot iron The sun is long…
Arms to Hold Me I'm not only Fading slowly Running out of Arms to hold me Cl…
Camera One The sandy haired son of Hollywood Lost his faith in all…
Dutch Wonderland Beneath the snow lies a dream that I once had And…
Empire State Standing on the Empire State I see the curve of the…
Fire You say you know me now Well I'm not sure…
Gravity I will not be here forever So I will not waste…
Happy At Last I sound like Michael Stipe and I dream like Carl…
Here I Am Here I am and I don't have much to say It…
Human Gazing down on fields far away Staring out at all I…
I Am Not the Only Cowboy And it starts like this We crave to be kissed by…
I've Changed I wanted perfection from every song I've ever sung But that…
It Must Be You I think therefore I think I am I can't make my…
It's Only Entertainment Richard is important To Richard and his most important frie…
Jaywalkers of the World Department store windows Dress in their best clothes And t…
Listening And she lies quietly amid her empty room And probes…
Lucky Cross the line and erase any doubt You walk the…
Matter And so life continues As matter does not disappear And you a…
Mortimer's Ghost Mortimer's ghost Graduates today First in his class And well…
Mr. New Year's Day This'll be the last song that I write About the things…
Must Be You I think therefore I think I am I can't make my…
One Becomes Two The consequences Of my behavior Have made me look hard To fi…
Phil Ochs I've seen the death of rock and roll. And I am…
Pilgrim's Progress The Mormons are at the door The sinners at the gates Jesus…
Stay Stay Close the door and stay Tell the world to go away And…
Superstar Miguel sits at the corner store with skin like terra…
The Future That Was Jesus, the world is falling to pieces Will you come…
The Siddharthas of Suburbia Stop wasting your words Convincing yourself that no one hur…
The World on a Shoestring I am extraordinarily good At sleeping the day away I thought…
To All My Friends It was the winter of our unpaid rent When everything we…
Trailways Stale coffee, auto map Tired candy, staring back at my ghost…
Trampoline Some people wish they could be like Moses And get…
Undone And I want to be down And I want to get…
Who's Afraid Of Thomas Wolfe I changed my name, I had it made I sold my…
Wonder Wheel It's only me the tattooed girls and the freaks Standing…