This album opened up an amazing reunion trip to San Francisco for me and my friends. So it's hard not to auto-love it because of its context. Speaking of which, I also grew up with Ryan Darton at the same schools in Sandy, Utah. I've attended countless shows with him. He's a bro. So I will try to keep my journalistic integrity and give the album an unbiased review. Pbff :-P
I am a Moth starts out with an invitation; asking you to come with the ingredients. Ryan Darton sings through the silence of "Summer and Snow" to welcome us into the album and his world. The stillness then brakes and the rest of the band comes drumming in with their full, practiced sound working well to harmonize each element. We are bounced through his strong vocals with fun and easy rifts in "Sing To Me Baby"; which keeps an uplifting pop sound full of hooks, background singers, keys, and horns. A feel good song to get you started, maybe stick in your head and smile there through the day.
Moth isn't all smiles though. Actually, after that first listen through I thought it sorta heavy and honest. Darton sings of love and loss, anxiety and youth, and does it with his own style. The band supports each song with an appropriate cadence and sound as he croons out each emotion. "Uptight" and "Divorce Generation" are an honest look at life of the young. Well written with whit, full of a misty sorrow felt through Darton's honed voice. Then "Camel's Back" gallops you back seamlessly. A folky hit that tells of arrogance, God, destinations, and train rides. You can almost see the sun setting over a lazy cowboy riding someplace other than here. Simple and well constructed, Side A is a nicely wrapped package that often gets me to turn the vinyl over for more.
However, the B Side of Moth has the most play on my stereo. It opens with "Living This Way" and poppy sounds. The next tracks are the kind of Ryan Darton that I am used to. The singer song writer, in front of a band, far from anonymous, using melody and rhythm to sing his musings. Here I am really impressed how far he has come as a vocalist, his range is great and his smokey voice can make a simple melody interesting. The band again, supports the mood of each track well. Their true sad song, aptly named "Shadows" reminds me a lot of the mathematical suspense created by Jimmy Eat World and Sunny Day Real Estate, where one steady, escalating melody seems to unravel into a single resonance. That feeling continues into the quiet piano accompaniment of "You" with a sad, charming progression that simmers then burns itself out.
Ryan Darton closes with a cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love" that he makes his own. It seals the job of selling his versatile, conditioned talent as a musician. If anything is taken away from my unbiased review, it is that Ryan Darton can string together a great list of songs. You should feel comfortable buying this album, switching it on around a good group of people, and enjoying a great feeling throughout the party. It is a solid album with a lot of heart. I have really enjoyed it.
