R. Stevie Moore – “UR True + 3” 7” EP (Felony Fidelity)
This is my first exposure to R. Stevie Moore and it’s a very positive experience! I’ve been curious about his music for years, but there is a lot of music to wade though and I never got to him. Since 1966, Moore has been obsessively writing and recording songs at home. The result of all this home recording is a long running and massive discography and a small cult following. For decades, he’s operated the R. Stevie Moore Tape Club (400+ releases and counting!), where, for a small fee, he will mail his fans a cd-r of his latest songs once a month. Not sure if the songs on this EP are new or from the archives, but they are solid sturdy pop songs with memorable hooks and some interesting twists and turns in the song structures. What is most striking about these songs is that, although the production is very lo-fi and cheap, they could have emerged from almost any era of rock music since the mid-60s. The falsetto vocals in the lead off track, “UR True,” recall the late 70s DIY post punk of the Homosexuals and Steve Treatment. “Oh Pat” has a mournful popsike feel that resembles Kevin Ayers or Village Green-era Ray Davies. Flashes of homebound Shrimper Records style indie pop shine through here and there. No one with a discography this massive could be firing on all cylinders all the time, but I’m very curious to dive into the world of R. Stevie Moore and hear more. (http://www.felonyfidelity.com)
(Chris Strunk)
