Moth
Provisions, Fiction and Gear (Virgin Records)
By: Jake Beamer
I stumbled across Moth's album: Provisions, Fiction and Gear in a used CD store, and that day heard the cd quickly via the store's listening station. Just to sample the album's first seven tracks was a surprise : diversity and CATCHINESS! Wow. Rare today, in the world of candy-coated Matchbox-20 wannabe package-pop. The album's artwork caught my eye, to tell you the truth.The next day I found myself back at the same record store shelling out the cash for the album. Seriously addictive. After going home that night, checking out their website and asking around if anyone I knew had heard of the band, still not much luck finding information.
When I got home and was able to give the CD a good listen, I was amazed at just HOW diverse the songs on Moth's (only major label debut..) album were. They all start relatively memorably, and then get to the meat of the song quickly, which is great. Plus the lyrics are all quite insightful, maintains interest. Although the lyrics aren't printed in the booklet for easy reading, it's an assortment of intriguing photos though, so I suppose that can make up for it. As it turns out from their website, the band had released two underground recordings before being picked up by Virgin.
In other reviews I have seen them compared to Weezer or other nu-pop, but I don't think this is the case. I hear Weezer, but also Beatles, post-punk, strange almost really dark rock roots here. On the opening song and first Moth (www.mothematics.com) single "I See Sound", the hook is clearly established from the first few notes of the singer's unique voice. Like punk and hard rock put together, but with more melody.
The album then continues on its great path with "Thinkin' Please", the astounding "Hearing Things" (second single? I was told it was heard on the radio..?) plus equally interesting "Burning Down My Sanity" and the album then delves into a variety of slightly more laid-back numbers (STILL good) including the incredibly lo-fi "Leftovers". But Provisions, Fiction ends up with a few serious rockers, perhaps my personal favorite "Straight Line" among them.
I just can't get over how infectious the songs of Provisions, Fiction are. Moth must really just be emerging slowly or not promoted properly by Virgin (www.virginrecords.com), because I think this album would get some sales. If this is truly their actual first album (indie releases..?) it's a damn good start.
If you are at all into good catchy melodic rock with a dark edge and a little grit, you are going to love Moth. Hard to stop listening to. My only complaints of the album are really merely technical, perhaps the fact that sometimes songs run on a little long (almost always a complaint of mine in songs) or the chorus is repeated a few too many times. And maybe a few songs near the end lack a LITTLE diversity, but it's really not much, not enough to be noticeable. I can listen to the album all the way through several times and not even notice. And that's saying something.
So if you want something a little new, a little different from your standard Rock fare, Moth will be your band. Wish they'd update their website, I'd really like to know a tour schedule.
