New Moon

NYブルックリン出身の4人組パンクバンド"ザ・メン"が、ゾーラ・ジーザスやクリスタル・スティルツを発掘したNYの新興レーベル＜Sacred Bones＞から4thアルバムをリリース! 12年にリリースされた3rdアルバム『オープン・ユア・ハート』はピッチフォークで8.5点(ベスト・ニュー・ミュージック)、NMEで8/10点、Spinで9/10点を獲得、年間ベストにも多数選出され一大ブレイク作となった。本作から前ベーシスト、クリス・ハンセルに代わりベン・グリーンバーグ(Pygmy Shrews、Hubble、Zs)がベーシストとして正式加入。ピアノ、マンドリン、ハーモニカ等を使ったことによって音色が広がり、アメリカン・ルーツ・ミュージックにも接近。同じ方法論を使わないというバンドの意志通り、より多彩に音楽的純度を高めた注目作!

On their fourth album in as many years, the Men are fast becoming one of the more prolific bands in indie rock, and though New Moon might be a mellower affair than their previous work, they show no signs of slowing down. Continuing along the path set down on 2012's Open Your Heart, the album pairs the abrasive production of their earlier efforts with a more melodic sound, creating a sound akin to Dinosaur Jr. on a serious Tom Petty kick. Though this new approach might come as a bit of a shock, given the kinds of sonic destruction the Men have been known to delight in, it's a move that the band has been telegraphing little by little as time has gone on, making songs like "Half Angel Half Light" and "I Saw Her Face" feel like a logical step in the band's growth to anyone paying attention. Fortunately for fans of their punishing past, New Moon smoothes out the edges without getting rid of them completely, leaving just enough rough patches here and there to remind listeners that there's still plenty of muscle hiding just below their languid facade on crash-and-bang bruisers like "Without a Face" and "The Brass." While on the surface it's easy to see New Moon simply as a band softening its approach, the melodic evolution feels more and more like the Men are trying to separate themselves from an ever-growing sea of second-wave noise rock bands, willingly abandoning a burgeoning trend before they're forever anchored to it. Luckily, the Men have enough versatility that they'll hopefully be paddling on long after the ship has sunk. ~ Gregory Heaney|

NYの現行パンク・シーンを代表する漢たちがベーシスト交代後にキャッツキルのスタジオで録音したこの新作は、冒頭のレイドバックしたフォーク・サウンドから驚かされること必至だ。従来の骨太なアンサンブルのなかに、ピアノやスティール・ギター、ハーモニカなど多彩な楽器を交えてより幅広い楽曲に挑戦し、確かな成長と哀愁とを感じさせる一枚になっている。あっ、モロにダイナソーJrな曲もアリ!
bounce (C)佐藤一道