Joe Neptune - No Time To Grow Up

22 May 2009 by Richard Wilson

Simple and submlime, Joe Neptune's latest release, "No Time To Grow Up" is a thoroughly interesting ode to youth.

A side project for the Custom Kings' Nick Vorrath and Jarrad Brown, "No Time to Grow Up" is a likeminded release that any fan of Custom Kings will easily embrace. It's filled with the same infectiously catchy guitar licks, abstract lyrics and simple pleasure.

Like much of their past releases, the placement of vocals is half the sound that Joe Neptune have built on from Custom Kings. On the opening title track, like in the past, Vorrath's vocals are pushed to the very front of the mix, for the sort of clarity and anunciation that perfectly suits his interesting voice.

It's clear by the second track, "Drift Away" that we're dealing with a more experimental beast. The track has a Whitley-esque low and repetitive acoustic guitar rhythm, a bit of vocal manipulation and even a string section that gives it that "readymade grandeur" feel. But it's songs like "Make It Happen" and its nauseating, honky-tonk Appalacian blues sound, that makes me feel that no one here's trying to prove their indie cred.

The album meanders through different sounds at a comfortable pace. Despite its relaxing nature and abstract instrumentation that often comes off as cliched, No Time To Grow Up never feels like it's trying to prove itself.

"The Holy Bible's" funky rhythm and oft-repeated yet catchy lines: "And look to the Holy Bible / When the beast is chasing me" makes for a fun and rockier song. As you clap along, you can't help but wonder if or what the deeper message is here. But one gets the feeling that the bigger meaning here is that there doesn't always have to be a meaning or message.

Jordie Lane contribues guest vocals to the "Name Of The Father". His searing voice not out of place against the rest of the album's lower sound, but rather providing an enjoyable contrast and fitting in well with the gospel nature of the song. Banjos and the honkytonk guitar are back.

After "Name Of The Father" and then the closer "Sister Come Home" one feels that growing up is inevitable, and perhaps it's not such a bad thing. At any rate there's a journey along the way, and with its ups and downs you might as well make the most of it.

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