CD Review

My affinity for Luna is well documented. Perhaps not publicly, but upon review of this twenty-something’s personal diary, readers will come across those rare entries detailing episodic instances of love and barely romance. More often than not you’ll find that during my good fortune Luna was the soundtrack of the experience.

It can be argued, and I’d support, that their latest, Rendezvous (Jetset) is the Big Apple supergroup’s strongest record to date. Yet at the same time they’ve held the subway train door wide-open, painted with potential. More world-class graffiti along the lines of Os Gemeos and less like average, amateuresque vandalism. So while Rendezvous is shimmering brilliance, you can expect that Luna will deliver like this again. Everything they’ve done thus far supports that less than bold prediction.

“Cindy Tastes of Barbecue” and “The Owl &the Pussycat” showcase Dean Wareham’s skilled manipulation of a surreal Edward Lear poem (on the latter), and his predilection for the fluffy soft and nonsensical pop tunes. Both feature the created characters and absurd word salads that keep fans always in line at the buffet.

For the first time guitarist Sean Eden takes lead vocals on a Luna record. Both tracks, “Broken Chair” and “Still at Home” are right at home in a band that makes music suited for the recently anesthetized- stitches still fresh…when the groggy feeling is more comfortable buzz, than annoying inconvenience.