"Arthur Buck" is an album length collaboration between Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck, two long-time indie rock heroes, Buck, with REM and Arthur, with his solo career of 14 albums. It was recorded in just a few days and is a fascinating look at how two experienced artists can work so well together at the drop of a hat.

Both are credited as songwriters with Buck playing most of the guitars and Arthur handling most of the vocals. The collaboration was so one-off that they didn’t bother with a drummer and use loops and drum machines for percussion.

This is not Buck’s first type of this collaboration, he’s worked in a similar way with Robyn Hitchcock, Alejandro Escovedo and Corin Tucker. But Arthur is the most accomplished songwriter Buck has worked with since Michael Stipe in REM. Buck’s mantra of “first thought, best thought” in inspiring spontaneity is what makes this album such a kick.

This type of off-the-cuff uninhibitedness usually doesn’t end well but these two artist’s careers guarantee a certain degree of polish while at the same time, reveling in the immediacy of the moment.

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