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Background Check: Port Orchard, Washington trio
with a bigger following in Europe than in the States.
Sounds like a heavier latter day Pink Floyd with redneck
leanings. Their oldest recording dates back to 2002. Mos
Generator are quite prolific, even participating in six
compilations over the last two years. If they aren’t
best known is because most people are fools and American
labels wouldn’t know their heads from their asses.
Cover
Artwork: The good German folks over at Nasoni only put out
quality package. The Late Great Planet Earth comes in a black digipack and includes a small poster of the band. The sun is so
bright and the quality of the image so grainy we can barely make
out their faces. The cover artwork depicts a solar eclipse
that’s revealing the earth’s incandescent core. Fitting, sober
and well-thought out. No pot leaves anywhere in sight, so they
get extra points for that.
What’s It
Like: I wasn’t kidding with the Pink Floyd mention up there.
In fact, opener “On the Eve” and the evocative warm keys on
“Fall of Megiddo” sound like Dark Side of the Moon outtakes.
Once the rock gets rolling though, Mos Generator remind of a
more laidback, low on psychedelics mid career Monster Magnet.
Especially the vocals of Tony Reed who leads the band with the
same vocal bravado of Dave Wyndorf. Reed has this natural tone
of voice that’s very well-fitting to his band’s poignant, no
filler quasi progressive stoner rock.
The
musicianship of Mos Generator is flawless. And the music is
crisp and so mid paced that every note is aggrandized by its
clarity and space. Mos Generator never get out of mid tempo, but
you wouldn’t notice because the songs flow so well and blend
into each other via comforting moods. The music of Mos Generator
has plenty of clarity and groovy riffs that date back to the
bluesy 70’s.
“Closed Casket” is bad ass in its small
grandiosity. The track has that 70’s stadium rock quality that
died a good death with the digital age and the arrival of MTV.
“Fall of Megiddo” is a ballad like only the good ones can
muster, a sexy stroll through the rings of Saturn in the company
of David Gilmour. Mos Generator’s clear-eyed stoney attitude is
proof that you can indulge a bit and not end up looking like Jim
Breuer.
What’s It
Worth? This band has wide appeal. Stoner rock fans.
Progressive rock fans. Psychedelic rock fans can all apply. You
just need good taste and a bit of patience as the constant mid
tempo keeps the stickiness of the tunes saved for those that
stick around for a third listen. The Late Great Planet Earth
is
solid and in certain moments, brilliant. This album came
out in 2006 so we are all a little late.
MySpace
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