Moth's major-label debut eschews pretentiousness in favor of intelligent lyrics set to effervescent melodic rock. Mixing acoustic and electric passages and loud-and-soft dynamics with fluidity reminiscent of the Replacemen... more »ts' Tim, the album's ecstatic tone never relents. The opening track, "I See Sound," is a stirring romp alternating crashing choruses, quieter, stream-of-consciousness verses, and guitar squalls, while "Thinking Please," wraps its wistful sentiments in insistent drumming and jack-knifing chords. But what elevates Provisions Fiction & Gear beyond equally catchy contemporaries is its incidental flourishes: the punk-funk breakdown in "Burning Down My Sanity," the cut-and-paste juxtaposition of harsh riffs and dewy flute on "Sleepy," and the robotic vocal manipulations on "Straight Line." Couple these with richly descriptive tales of confusion, heartbreak, and anguish, and you have all of the elements of an engaging and excellent album. --Annie Zaleski« less
Moth's major-label debut eschews pretentiousness in favor of intelligent lyrics set to effervescent melodic rock. Mixing acoustic and electric passages and loud-and-soft dynamics with fluidity reminiscent of the Replacements' Tim, the album's ecstatic tone never relents. The opening track, "I See Sound," is a stirring romp alternating crashing choruses, quieter, stream-of-consciousness verses, and guitar squalls, while "Thinking Please," wraps its wistful sentiments in insistent drumming and jack-knifing chords. But what elevates Provisions Fiction & Gear beyond equally catchy contemporaries is its incidental flourishes: the punk-funk breakdown in "Burning Down My Sanity," the cut-and-paste juxtaposition of harsh riffs and dewy flute on "Sleepy," and the robotic vocal manipulations on "Straight Line." Couple these with richly descriptive tales of confusion, heartbreak, and anguish, and you have all of the elements of an engaging and excellent album. --Annie Zaleski
Jessica T. (jessicatok) from LINCOLN, NE Reviewed on 4/23/2007...
This version is for the advance CD, standout track is "I See Sound." Solid addition to an alternative rock collection.
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CD Reviews
Better than a punk band
Meghan Bunn | Quartz Hill, CA USA | 11/17/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When I heard "I See Sound," I immediately categorized them with Sum41 and Blink182. Yet later, I came to notice that its music was better than punk. It was organized, instead of something like a trial jam session where anything goes. You could tell it was practiced with precision and not just a general understanding of how the song should sound. They are professional and mature rockers, at least musically. Yet, I believe they deserved four stars because I couldn't stand tracks eight to eleven on the CD ...I listen to the beginning half and that is well enough worth my money."
A thrilling return to rock music.
Rodney Bowcock Jr. | California, KY United States | 04/10/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Good ol' rock music has been seriously lacking from the lineups of major labels. This release from Moth, a band that honed their sound by playing in the amazingly underrated Cincinnati music scene is one giant step in the right direction. While it's easy to pick out specific influences of the band,(Weezer and The Pixies jump out)the band manages to mix and disguise the sounds of those that came before them into a mix that is incredibly infectious and sounds surprisingly fresh in the sea of god-awful-drek that is force fed to us by major labels.It's a great album from a great band, and I hope they are very successful in future efforts. Fans of The Pixies, Weezer, and Idlewild will be thrilled with this release."
Have yourself a ball...a MOTH ball, that is!
Bryan Rawson | Phoenix, AZ | 06/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well I think it's safe to say nothing can top that brilliant title, and I'm no poetic expert when it comes to critiquing music, but simply put this is one of those CDs that I'm proud to have shelled out some cash for. See I'm one of those crazy people who stills pays for their music, and it's always nice to be able to say, "Hey, this album was worth every penny." (Even easier to say since I got it on sale...)But it in any case, it's an incredibly fun and interesting listen. Moth effectively uses different styles and sounds while keeping the common thread of well-produced songs and rock-infested beats. The previous comment about it being a "complete" album is something that registered with me, because I completely agree and also because it's a pretty rare find these days. It's one of those CDs that you aren't even tempted to skip through to find the "hits", because it's consistently great. I really appreciate a band who can switch up it's sound from track to track, and still sound passionate and credible. For some reason Beck comes to mind, but with less abstract flair and a more predominant rock feel to it. If you're somebody who likes an adventurous ride through constantly changing scenery as opposed to a straight, flat, stretch of desert with the occasional oasis, pick this album up and do it soon."
Very nice
01/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm really bad at writing music reviews...so I'll just defer to what the others say. Definitely one of the best albums I've ever purchased. Really original and almost completely perfect (Song #4 is terrible)."
A Young Band with Quirky Tunes
WrtnWrd | Northridge, CA USA | 08/06/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Though this quartet calls New York home, Moth, on Provisions, Fiction and Gear, could easily have come from the Alternative Pacific Northwest. Vocalist Brad Stenz is a ringer for Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, and Moth's music is like bite-sized nuggets of MM's sprawling tales of alienation. They've got hooks to burn, and burn they do on most of these 12 cuts. They keep the tempos moving, and overlay a few tracks with glossy new wave touches (the vocal on "Lovers Quarrel" is a histrionic homage to the New Romantics). They're shooting for the alt-mainstream, but are eccentric enough to miss by a few yards. In the end, their quirkiness saves them from being just another young band with catchy tunes."