Rob's Album of The Week: Walk The Moon

Over the past few years, groovy indie-pop acts have hit the forefront when it comes to music fiends looking for the next big thing. Acts like Fun, Foster The People, Passion Pit, MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club and Electric Guest have been growing more and more popular with their infectious rhythms and beats that meld the rave/club feel that a DJ with two turntables can bring but with a different take on it, using actual instruments to give it an incredible organic aura. A scene that definitely reminds me of the music I heard from the late 80s era known as "The Second Summer of Love" in the United Kingdom, where bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays took the world by storm by making their concerts into full fledged dance parties. Another band that can definitely fit into this illustrious group is Cincinnati's Walk The Moon and their brand new self-titled album.

Consisting of Nicholas Patricca on lead vocals, keys and synths, Kevin Ray on bass, Sean Waugaman on drums and Eli Maiman on guitar Walk The Moon isn't just your average indie band. Their pop-dance sound is accented by the screeching, rugged riffs from Maiman's guitar, giving the band an edgy character that even the biggest non-conformist, anti-pop aficionado you know can appreciate, especially if they like to dance, do the boogie, shake their hips, shuffle their feet, cut a rug, jump to the ceiling and wave their hands in the air like they just don't care. The band's new album has a few remixed versions of tracks their 2010 debut, I Want! I Want!, but it shows that they are putting forth their best effort to expose their music to a wider audience. After one note, rhythm and verse, it's hard to believe that nobody will be immediately hooked when their eardrums are absorbing the pure excellence that is Walk The Moon.

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It's that time again where I pick a few tracks that I really, really like. As in the past with previous albums, this is so damn good it was very hard to narrow down a select few but here I go: "Lisa Baby" is my favorite track off of the album, a song about a girl who can change her personality as often she changes her clothes that features a blistering solo from Maiman that is guaranteed to put your mind into a state of utter amazement. "Anna Sun" is the band's big hit that has other publications proclaiming it to be "The Song of The Summer", an absolutely pulsating boogie anthem with Waugaman's pounding drum skills serving as the backbone. 

"Jenny" starts off with Ray's bass setting the tone and then Patricca's silky smooth singing about not giving a girl love until you get it in return and Maiman's sensational guitar variations take over to make a song that just makes you want to whip out the glow sticks and start a one-person dance party in the comfort of your own home. "Quesadilla" is a song title that makes me hungry, but once you hear Patricca's head-bopping synths and keys you'll want to shuffle your feet. "Tightrope" will make you do the hustle, the jitterbug and if you're the adventurous type, the funky chicken. Maiman's incredible guitar styles carry the track while Waugaman seems like he'll never let down from showcasing his thunderous drumming with no sign of stopping. After reading this award-winning review of excellence you should completely ignore my opinion, grab the record and check it out for yourself.

Walk The Moon has been in the middle of constant touring since playing the Klipsch Music Center in Indianapolis on May 26th. They played two sets at The Sasquatch Music Festival in George, WA on May 28th and they are planning on playing at Summerfest in Milwaukee on June 27th, Festsall Kruzberg in Berlin on July 7th, Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 15th and then doing some more touring until late October. Unfortunately for us live music geeks in New England, Walk The Moon already played The Paradise Rock Club in Boston on June 18th but here's some good news: they'll be opening for Neon Trees at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence on August 17th. Until then, get yourself a copy of the new self-titled album from Walk The Moon. It'll make you scream, shout and shake your body down to the ground.

- Rob Duguay