It’s been said by many, including myself, that tons of alt-country records sound the same, and those are the records that give weight to the arguments that alt-country, roots-rock or whatever it’s called, is a dying art-form. Here’s the thing: Sadly, that is the case for the bad, bland records that suffer from a lack of distinctive vision or inspiration, but the bands that know how to spread their wings and elevate above simple categorization are the ones that breathe life into the so-called subgenre and give hope to those of us who want to see alt-whatever-it-is live a long and healthy life.
Now living in Los Angeles, Olin & The Moon have released their third record, Footsteps, a record that flows sonorously and nails the natural feel that so many alt-wannabes simply miss, way too often.
Moving into the moodier, melodramatic realms, both lyrically and musically, of rock that aren’t quite country and folk that isn’t full on acoustic softness, lead singer/songwriter David LaBrel channels his inner-Damien Rice in the way in which his quietness is every bit as impactful as the most bombastic of rock and roll yelps from a singer who lacks the self-assured security to say what he truly means and feels.
About the author: I likes me some wine, women and waffles, not always in that order (but usually). Chaucer is cool, but fart jokes are even better. You feel like spikin' your country with a little soul or mix in a little rock without the roll? Lemme hear from ya!!