''The Graduation Ceremony'' is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter

Joseph Arthur Joseph Lyburn Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter and artist from Akron, Ohio. He is best known for his solo material, and as a member of Fistful of Mercy and RNDM. Arthur has built his reputation over the years t ...

, released on May 23, 2011 on Lonely Astronaut Records. Following two studio albums with backing band, The Lonely Astronauts, ''The Graduation Ceremony'' is Arthur's first solo album since '' Nuclear Daydream'' (2006), and was initially intended to be a joint release with session drummer

Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". Howard Sounes. ''Do ...

. Prior to the album's release, Arthur noted, "early signs are quite good that people might like it. One can only hope. You do your thing put it out and move on. Artists and sharks are the same." Regarding the album's stripped-back aesthetic, Arthur stated, "I wanted to make something simple." Produced by

John Alagia John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, the album features

Liz Phair Elizabeth Clark Phair (born April 17, 1967) is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phair was raised primarily in the Chicago area. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1990, she attempted to sta ...

and Lonely Astronauts bassist Sybil Buck amongst its contributors.

Background and recording

Upon writing the album's opening track, "Out on a Limb", on a friend's guitar, whilst staying in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, Arthur subsequently recorded the track, alongside ten others at Sheldon Gomberg's studio, The Carriage House. Arthur noted, "I'm always looking for creative outlets when I'm in L.A., because L.A. scares me. There's a great energy in not being home. So I called Sheldon and I said I had some songs to record, and would he be up for it? He said 'sure', and I said, 'Well I'm already outside. Can I come in?' I went through all these tracks - some old, some brand new ones that I hadn't recorded - on mostly first or second takes, and that was going to be the record." Eventually deciding that the tracks were "undercooked and underproduced," Arthur contacted session drummer

, who had recently worked with Arthur on the collaborative album, ''

As I Call You Down ''As I Call You Down'' is the debut album by American rock supergroup Fistful of Mercy, released on October 5, 2010.

'', and had previously appeared on Arthur's second studio album, '' Come to Where I'm From'', to record drum tracks to the stripped-back acoustic recordings. Arthur subsequently contacted producer

, who had previously produced Arthur's contribution to the ''

Shrek 2 ''Shrek 2'' is a 2004 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book '' Shrek!'' by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon from a screenplay by Adamson, Joe Sti ...

'' soundtrack, "You're So True", and the duo began working on the already recorded material, alongside other tracks.

Track listing

#"Out on a Limb" #"Horses" #"Almost Blue" #"Someone to Love" #"Watch Our Shadows Run" #"This is Still My World" #"Over the Sun" #"Face in the Crowd" #"Midwest" #"Gypsy Faded" #"Call" #"Love Never Asks You to Lie"

Personnel

Musicians

- lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums *

- guitar, bass guitar *

- drums *

Sibyl Buck Sibyl Buck (born May 27, 1972) is an American musician, yoga instructor, and fashion model. Career Early life Buck was born 27 May 1972 in Versailles, France. Her family moved to Virginia in the United States soon after her birth, where she g ...

- backing vocals *Brian Cohen - backing vocals *Madi Diaz - backing vocals *

- backing vocals

Recording personnel

*John Algia - producer, recording, mixing *Joseph Arthur - producer *Sheldon Gomberg - recording (The Carriage House) *

Ed Ackerson Edwin C. Ackerson (July 18, 1965 – October 4, 2019) was an American musician and producer from Minneapolis. He produced or engineered dozens of records including works by prominent artists such as The Jayhawks, The Replacements (band), The Repl ...

- recording (

Flowers Studio Flowers Studio is a recording studio in Minneapolis founded by Ed Ackerson, leader of the alternative rock bands Polara (band), Polara and the 27 Various, and co-founder of the Susstones Records label. Many notable musicians have recorded at the ...

) *Scott Hull - mastering

Artwork

*Davies - artwork

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graduation Ceremony Joseph Arthur albums 2011 albums