Moore Brothers
(American Dust)
The Moore Brothers are the real deal. Brothers, that is-Greg and Thom-and it's no surprise that they take full advantage of the filial harmony effect, their voices intertwining on almost every track. They also employ the same strategy Bob Mould and Grant Hart used on Husker Du's Warehouse; though all songs are credited to The Moore Brothers, Thom wrote the even-numbered tracks and Greg the odd-numbered.
That said, the 14 songs on Aptos are all of a piece, evoking nothing so much as Love's mellower sounds. The mostly acoustic songs mostly avoid simple hooks, favoring instead quirkier melodies and unpredictable chord changes, which fit the obscure lyrics of songs like "Girl Right" and "Good Heart, Money and Rain" (featuring Joanna Newsom on harp) perfectly, and herky-jerky rhythms on "Iraq" and "Daughter Feather" that put up a wall while the harmonies beckon. In the end, the sound is memorable, but the songs aren't; Aptos is pleasant enough while it's on, but if it's luscious Southern California harmonies you're after, there are plenty more satisfying places to get them.
Incidentally, sleeve art for the CD is rendered by none other than the legendary underground and fantasy artist William Stout.
Standout Tracks: "Daughter Feather," "Girl Right" ERIC SCHUMACHER-RASMUSSEN
