Moore & Sons is the current project of Negative Approach drummer Chris “Opie” Moore and Moore released his eighth solo disc, Holdouts, earlier this year. The songs on this eleven track disc are predominately roots-rock/Americana numbers that are closer in spirit to Moore’s previous band Crossed Wire and bands like the Meat Puppets rather than the hardcore furry of Negative Approach. With the Sons, Moore plays guitars and sings and the Sons (which include Gary Langol, Adam Gold, Tom Gavin and Dennis Cronin) are all multi-instrumentalists and play a range of instruments that includes the expected pedal and lap steel, banjo and double bass along with the unexpected vibraphonette and brass.

Despite its Americana core, this isn’t a ‘typical’ singer/songwriter disc as the songs have twist and turn, both within and across the different songs, and the music has a noticeable edge. The nuances within the music are complemented by stellar production which gives the music an organic and live feel and brings out Moore’s lyrics and deadpan vocals.

(This is an older track but gives a good indication of what Moore's music sounds like)


“Concessions” starts off the disc and wraps moody and winding guitar lines that would make Tom Verlaine proud around a full band sound. These long sustained guitar notes build to a pinnacle which fall to an acoustic strum as the song winds down. “This Here's The Place” shifts gears completely and is frenetic and quirky – sort of like an offbeat version of The Pixies. “Trailin' Off” shifts gears yet again with ringing guitars and an 80’s college-rock vibe that falls somewhere between The Waterboys and the Meat Puppets. The next couple tracks fall more squarely into “Meat Puppets territory” with driving alt-country roots-rock with a bit of an edge to it. “Your Turn Now” & "Broken Spell" are hazy, 60’s pop-psychedelia numbers and later track brings in some minimalist horns. “Priority Mail” is an instrumental with prominent honky-tonk guitars which serves as the bridge to shift back into the disc’s core alt-country sound. “Pass on By” crosses ringing guitars with understated harmonies and a driving beat that reminds me of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”. “Count on Us” is an alt-rock number with jagged rhythms and slapped drums. The disc comes full circle on its final track, “Ideal Hideaway”, which starts slow but, on the back half of the song, builds up a wall of ringing guitars that come crashing down at the end.

Links:
Moore & Sons