The MoondoggiesTidelands
Hardly Art Records [2010]
Fire Note Says: Seattle band shows growth on sophomore record Tidelands.
Album Review:
Sophomore albums are always tricky territory because a solid debut pins a group into a certain sound and typically the follow up only allows a small amount of room for change or a band threatens their very existence. The Moondoggies fall into this quagmire, as Tidelands finds them really growing as a band and taking a much more "album" approach to this record. Stylistically, The Moondoggies have also shifted from more straightforward boogie song structures to sprawling numbers that soar at a mid-tempo pace and
contain plenty of three part harmonic melodies to make them float. The band does not give up its grinding guitar undertone, as they flex their muscles in peaks on "What Took So Long" and the title track. It is this strong song cohesion that makes Tidelands work on two levels. The first being that individual tracks have a total grace when played by themselves but then contribute to the second level and make this album a listening experience from track 1 to track 10. The band also provides some acoustic numbers that showcase their growth, as closer "A Lot Of People On My Mind" is a heartfelt track, that is just voice and guitar. A simple and perfect way to close out the relaxing Tidelands. The only thing that holds this record back from greatness is that several songs on its last third fail to bring their vocal harmonies and sort of play things by the numbers. This actually creates somewhat of a lag till you reach the excellent closing finishing line. Overall, The Moondoggies are on the right path and Tidelands is no "slump" or "left turn", it is just a record that has several powerful pieces and some stellar ideas, that should continue the bands growth and leave the door open for something special on album number three!Key Tracks: "Tidelands", "Lead Me On", "What Took So Long"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Fleet Foxes
The Band
My Morning Jacket
The Moondoggies: Don't Be A Stranger [Fire Note Review 9/3/08]
The Moondoggies Website
The Moondoggies MySpace
The Moondoggies Facebook
Hardly Art Records
-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony
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