GOON MOON – LICKER’S LAST LEG (2007)Side projects are always a mixed bag. They either capture the individual creative abilities of the protagonists for an interesting musical collaboration, or they fall flat in a tide of self referential back slapping and boozy excuses of self indulgence. For in the Rock star bubble that is life for these individuals, the side project is their vacation, a chance to jam amongst friends and leave the tape player running for what will hopefully be some worthwhile results. When Jeordie White (A.K.A Twiggy Ramirez), the former bass player with Marilyn Manson and now full time member of Nine Inch Nails, Masters of Reality singer/guitarist Chris Goss and Hella drummer Zach Hill got together in 2005, the creative juices must have been flowing like a Desert session oasis, because not only did they create a 10 track mini LP in “I Got A Brand New Egg Layin’ Machine”, but there was a number of work in progress ‘half songs’ that were left until the next blue moon. And so, signed to Mike Patton’s Ipecac label, Goon Moon bring us “Licker’s Last Leg”, which combines the completed demo’s from 2005, along with some new material and a cover of The Bee Gee’s psychedelic pop song “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You”.Surprisingly, “Licker’s Last Leg” sounds nothing like a reincarnation of the band members past. It’s a rag tag mix of refreshing obscurity consisting of Kyuss style stoner Rock, 60’s psychedelia, and Deerhoof goof ball Rock. There’s a limitless shift of musical patterns throughout, diving from one random rock pool to the next, often within a song (“The Golden Ball”). Goss has said that the reason for the genre hopping is down to the fact that the music that influenced the original song writing has changed by 2007 saying “If you record something years ago, you're influenced by a lot of stuff that's going on, then you revisit it." They’ve also got the ear for a hook, and through all the unadulterated experiments in anything from 60’s Blues Rock to 80’s Post Punk there are strong melodies lying at the core of almost every moment. “Tip Toe” is bonkers hallucinogenic Pop, as Goss sings “I’m losing my connection” to a fuzzy riff, clicking fingers and a phased drum pattern. “My Machine” rumbles in on dramatic rhythms, and magically rips into a QOTSA styled hard rocker that Josh Homme would nod in appreciation to. The Bee Gee’s cover “ Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” sounds so stoned it must have took a trip round Jupiter before arriving in this reviewer’s CD player. And whilst we await Axl’s “Chinese Democracy”, Goon Moon go one better with the superb “Feel Like This”.There’s no leaning on past glories and obvious directions here; Goon Moon bring genuinely original sounds that are far more diverse than their self confessed influences. Pleasantly surprising.7/10
five-four says
Hmm.. the guitar lick is catchy. I'm still hearing it, even after the song stopped. I wish there was more variation in the guitar line, instead of repeating and repeating. Nice review, btw.
Augusts1 says
The song 'Autumn' has a very Bowie/T Rex sound to it(Bowie in the vocals/Rex in the music), 'Feel Like This' has a very Queens Of The Stone Age sound to it & 'My Machine' reminds me of Ministry. Lol, I just read the rest of your review since I stopped to listen to the songs & you mention QOTSA!(but not for the same song I mentioned them for)
Btw, did you ever get back to my post about Mono when your speakers were acting up?
GOON MOON – LICKER’S LAST LEG (2007)Side projects are always a mixed bag. They either capture the individual creative abilities of the protagonists for an interesting musical collaboration, or they fall flat in a tide of self referential back slapping and boozy excuses of self indulgence. For in the Rock star bubble that is life for these individuals, the side project is their vacation, a chance to jam amongst friends and leave the tape player running for what will hopefully be some worthwhile results. When Jeordie White (A.K.A Twiggy Ramirez), the former bass player with Marilyn Manson and now full time member of Nine Inch Nails, Masters of Reality singer/guitarist Chris Goss and Hella drummer Zach Hill got together in 2005, the creative juices must have been flowing like a Desert session oasis, because not only did they create a 10 track mini LP in “I Got A Brand New Egg Layin’ Machine”, but there was a number of work in progress ‘half songs’ that were left until the next blue moon. And so, signed to Mike Patton’s Ipecac label, Goon Moon bring us “Licker’s Last Leg”, which combines the completed demo’s from 2005, along with some new material and a cover of The Bee Gee’s psychedelic pop song “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You”.Surprisingly, “Licker’s Last Leg” sounds nothing like a reincarnation of the band members past. It’s a rag tag mix of refreshing obscurity consisting of Kyuss style stoner Rock, 60’s psychedelia, and Deerhoof goof ball Rock. There’s a limitless shift of musical patterns throughout, diving from one random rock pool to the next, often within a song (“The Golden Ball”). Goss has said that the reason for the genre hopping is down to the fact that the music that influenced the original song writing has changed by 2007 saying “If you record something years ago, you're influenced by a lot of stuff that's going on, then you revisit it." They’ve also got the ear for a hook, and through all the unadulterated experiments in anything from 60’s Blues Rock to 80’s Post Punk there are strong melodies lying at the core of almost every moment. “Tip Toe” is bonkers hallucinogenic Pop, as Goss sings “I’m losing my connection” to a fuzzy riff, clicking fingers and a phased drum pattern. “My Machine” rumbles in on dramatic rhythms, and magically rips into a QOTSA styled hard rocker that Josh Homme would nod in appreciation to. The Bee Gee’s cover “ Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” sounds so stoned it must have took a trip round Jupiter before arriving in this reviewer’s CD player. And whilst we await Axl’s “Chinese Democracy”, Goon Moon go one better with the superb “Feel Like This”.There’s no leaning on past glories and obvious directions here; Goon Moon bring genuinely original sounds that are far more diverse than their self confessed influences. Pleasantly surprising.7/10
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