Search - Moon :: Without Earth/The Moon

Top Notch Psychedelic Bubblegum

Pop Kulcher | San Carlos, CA USA | 04/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just as it seems every schlemiel with a guitar who heard the Ramones or Sex Pistols ran out and started a punk band, it's probably a safe bet that a fair number of people who bought Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or Magical Mystery Tour started a psychedelic-tinged pop band and put out an obscure album or two. Most of which, needless to say, are mediocre and terribly dated. And, to be honest, pretty much every great obscure track you really need can be found on the Nuggets and Nuggets II box sets. Still, occasionally I'll stumble across a surprisingly decent obscurity.



This is one of those lucky finds. L.A.'s The Moon didn't exactly take the Summer of Love by storm; their biggest claim to fame was likely the inclusion of guitarist David Marks, who apparently had played in the Beach Boys at some point (nope, I hadn't heard of him earlier). Fortunately, collectors' label Rev-Ola collected their 2 lp's, 1968's Without Earth and 1969's The Moon, onto a single cd a couple years back. And it's actually pretty great. Or if not great, at least something worth repeated listens. The debut is a pretty blatant Beatles rip-off, apparently trying to sound as much like Magical Mystery Tour as possible without venturing into copyright infringement. Of course, nothing is as memorable as anything John & Paul came up with, but there are a few songs (oddly overlooked by Nuggets and comparable collections) that deserve to be played alongside any other 60's pop classics -- most notably the catchy "Walking Around" and the psychedlia-drenched "Never Mind." Much of the rest falls into a sunshine pop sound, perhaps too twee to be memorable, but it ain't bad. The follow-up was more of a departure, with the band apparently adding some Dylan (or, more likely, Donovan) to their collections. A much more folk-oriented sound, though still plenty of light psychedelic pop thrown into the mix. Some gets kinda silly, but the sound is a bit improved, and at least it's less derivative. All in all, a worthwhile purchase for fans of the era."

This album just knocked me out!

Rob | N.E. Pennsylvania | 07/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I read the other reviews, decided to take a chance, as I love to discover new music, no matter how old. I thought it would be good. I was wrong. This collection is nothing short of great. I don't throw that description around lightly. I'm a Beatle worshiper, a fan of the Zombies, The Moody Blues, King Crimson...

I know good music. These guys really deserved to be heard. The songs are well written, creative, arranged and performed with style and imagination. The music is an absolute delight.

In closing, in case you have yet to get my drift, I love this album, and urge anyone with taste to buy it and play it their friends. Spred the word about The Moon!"

The Moon's 2 lps ('67/'68) - Ahead of it's time~

D. Larsen | 02/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Moon's only two lps that were released/recorded back in '67 & '68 are quite ahead of it's time, considering the debut lp was done on a three track, the later on a 4 track! The sound is hugh with psych "analog" punch (especially the bass). Although the debut lp "Without Earth," is a little bit bright (nothing a good EQ can't change), there's still that big bottom end "full of wall" sound. Nevermind the some songs are killer "Beatles (think Magical Mystery Tour era) Psych style" full tilt. Others that have over the top hooks, and even one track that has sort of a funk groove (Got To Be On My Way) going on. The real candy psych tracks- Pleasure, I Should Be Dreaming (backward drums), Brother Lou's Love Colony, Someday Girl, Papers, and Faces, keep you coming back for more and more (I couldn't stop plqaying this disc for weeks!). The 2nd lp "The Moon," has a more rounded "sound production," but not nearly as psych as the debut lp. More laid back, but still some real good gems too. My personal favorite track "Mr. Duffy," brings back some psych flavor mixed with a Paul McCartney solo style vibe, with beautiful string arrangements! That song that I still go back listening to, over and over again. If you haven't picked up this underground band that never got the attention they deserved, highly recommend picking it up and adding it to your "psych collection!" 5 Stars!"