2008 Woodie Awards
Rock music through the ages with moe.
Ryan King
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Entertainment
What do you get when you add together the 1970's southern rock style of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the jam/progressive rock flairs of Phish? You get moe., a quintet formed around 1990 in Buffalo, NY. In an interview, guitarist/vocalist Al Schnier was asked to describe his band's music to someone who had never heard it. This was his reply: "It's an amalgamation of a wide variety of the history of rock, all regurgitated and recycled through the eyes, ears, hands, whatever of the guys in our band and all of that with a sense of adventure, a sense of humor, also a constant desire to push the envelope. All in this arena of taking chances, improvising live, and making things up on the spot." No joke either, that's really what it's like. In their newest release, Sticks and Stones, which came out January 22, 2008, Schnier's description of his music proves accurate.
The album grabs you right away with the opener "Cathedral." Its catchy rock beat combined with an array of instrumentation leaves listeners in anticipation for the ensuing tracks. They don't disappoint either. The title track "Sticks and Stones" follows the opener and if you weren't hooked after hearing "Cathedral" you most definitely will be at this point. It's hard to resist the light-hearted lyrics and charming guitar solo near the end of the song. The album then takes a sudden turn from the oh-so-fun-and-happy to a slower tempo and slightly dark feel. The bluesy "Conviction Song" which seems to be about past sins, creates a perfect contrast to the tracks preceding it. Adding to the twists and turns of the album is the instrumental track "ZOZ." It's a classic jam track with exceptional double guitar interface. Also noteworthy of the track is the underlying vibe and percussion beat. "All Roads Lead to Home" is another highlight on this album. The band returns to the fast and catchy style with this track; the guitar riff and overall feel to the song is reminiscent of an old Eagles song. Finally, at the end of the album they hit you with a song that most college students can appreciate. "Raise a Glass" is redolent of an old Irish folk song complete with violin, people singing along in the background, and the feeling that you're sitting in the pub while listening and not in your own room.
From high tempo fun and catchy guitar riffs to slow, bluesy beats, Sticks and Stones is one of moe.'s best musical efforts. The tracks cover a wide range of emotions and clearly demonstrate the depth of their musical diversity and natural talent. This album definitely warrants multiple plays and deserves 80 MB of space on your iPod, even if you have to get rid of some other music.
The album grabs you right away with the opener "Cathedral." Its catchy rock beat combined with an array of instrumentation leaves listeners in anticipation for the ensuing tracks. They don't disappoint either. The title track "Sticks and Stones" follows the opener and if you weren't hooked after hearing "Cathedral" you most definitely will be at this point. It's hard to resist the light-hearted lyrics and charming guitar solo near the end of the song. The album then takes a sudden turn from the oh-so-fun-and-happy to a slower tempo and slightly dark feel. The bluesy "Conviction Song" which seems to be about past sins, creates a perfect contrast to the tracks preceding it. Adding to the twists and turns of the album is the instrumental track "ZOZ." It's a classic jam track with exceptional double guitar interface. Also noteworthy of the track is the underlying vibe and percussion beat. "All Roads Lead to Home" is another highlight on this album. The band returns to the fast and catchy style with this track; the guitar riff and overall feel to the song is reminiscent of an old Eagles song. Finally, at the end of the album they hit you with a song that most college students can appreciate. "Raise a Glass" is redolent of an old Irish folk song complete with violin, people singing along in the background, and the feeling that you're sitting in the pub while listening and not in your own room.
From high tempo fun and catchy guitar riffs to slow, bluesy beats, Sticks and Stones is one of moe.'s best musical efforts. The tracks cover a wide range of emotions and clearly demonstrate the depth of their musical diversity and natural talent. This album definitely warrants multiple plays and deserves 80 MB of space on your iPod, even if you have to get rid of some other music.
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Kevin
posted 2/04/08 @ 8:39 PM EST
well written article. Moe. rocks. I just saw them in Chicago and Philly and their energy, talent and most entertaining and colorful light show provide a great night of entertainment. (Continued…)
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