Moondoggies: Tidelands (Hardly Art)

 |   |  <1 min read

Moondoggies: A Lot of People on My Mind
Moondoggies: Tidelands (Hardly Art)

Their name might not inspire much confidence -- the sort of band name 12-year olds think up -- but this rootsy, alt.country and indie-rock outfit from Seattle on a SubPop imprint label have a mainline connection to the same core of music (Neil Young, the Band) as informs the Felice Brothers, early Wilco and Richmond Fontaine.

They certainly know their way around a melody (the Everlys-meets-Jeff Tweedy on Emperor of the North) and singer Kevin Murphy (another of the beardy types populating this music) brings real presence to songs like the sad ballad Uncertain. And you can't fault not just the musicianship (organ, steel guitar and so on) nor how it works in the service of the songs.

They also bring an interesting dimension to the swirling Down the Well where the turbulent keyboards provide a slightly disconcerting mood and among the standouts is We Can't All Be Blessed towards the end which conjures up the melodic spirit of Fleet Foxes but keeps matters pleasingly underdressed and understated.

At some level -- as must be obvious -- Moondoggies do sound like a lot of other bands and perhaps that is the major shortcoming here. But they have also crafted an album which, as the title suggests, has an ebb and flow to it, and over repeat listenings it is one that takes you to its heart. And vice-versa.

Like this? Then try this.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

Various: Motown Love (Motown/Universal)

Various: Motown Love (Motown/Universal)

This triple-disc set suffers from the same problem as the previously released and quite dreadful Motown 50 collection: an unacceptable and unnatural inclusion of Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 and Diana... > Read more

IN BRIEF: A quick overview of some recent international releases

IN BRIEF: A quick overview of some recent international releases

With so many CDs commanding and demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column which scoops up releases by international artists, in much the same way as our SHORT CUTS column... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING (2018): The future in a rearview mirror.

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING (2018): The future in a rearview mirror.

It's a peculiar thing which London's Public Service Broadcasting have achieved, they make thrilling and heroic music which is emotionally uplifting, yet they weld that out of references to a past... > Read more

Various Artists; So Frenchy So Chic 2012 (Cartell/Border)

Various Artists; So Frenchy So Chic 2012 (Cartell/Border)

The annual double discs under the banner So Frenchy So Chic -- "the unofficial soundtrack" to the Alliance Francaise French Film Festivals in Australia -- allow the casual listener to... > Read more