A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com)
Space, Flesh, and Woe
Jim from the Moon
As I've detailed elsewhere, I many years ago began within the crit world in the pages of Sound Choice, the DIY publication pooted out by the bizarre and likely demented David Ciaffardini, the Rob Kall of the music print industry. The very first review I ever had published was of Daniel Johnston's cult classic Hi! How are You? beloved of Thurston Moore and other luminaries. However, where Sonic Youth's hetman finds a baffling legitimacy to Johnston, I never have and e'er preferred those who are strange but genuinely talented: Jandek (who almost exceeds even my grasp), R. Stevie Moore, Kevin Coyne, genius ranteur Copernicus, and cats like this guy, Jim from the Moon.
There's a lot of rawness to his work, a quality matching the intensity of the gent's passions while bringing out dimensions quite different from what's glommed in the mainstream and even many alternative venues. The sustaining force, though, is a fire raging within, finding release in psychedelia and a proggy mellifluity sometimes torn to shreds (as in Lover, Do You Love Me?), other times mournful to the point of being damn near funereal…then there's a 60s San Francisco mutated folk vibe popping up every so often. Frankly, I wouldn't have been at all surprised to have found this disc on Young Gods Records or another of the highly intriguing venues Howard Wuelfing wings my way for FAME printspace. I mean, catch Jilted Lovers, an eerie Tim Buckleyan threnody, and then listen as War is to Oil breaks into an Amon Duul II conflagration from outer space.
There are also traces of Black Sun Ensemble here as well as some Gary Lucas, but Space, Flesh, & Woe is pretty damned individualistic and very much in alignment with newer generations breaking all the rules while observing whatever fits their needs, resulting in some pretty bold experiments. What really nailed me, though, was a pre-listen given to Sometimes, a haunting track with brief simple lyrics that can't help but bore through your skull, set up residence in the limbic system, and refuse to vacate. Scary sometimes. Other than the drums, Jim plays everything and manages quite well in forcing his way through the progrock door…though that may well not have been his intention. Works for me, though.
Track List:
* New Blues
* Open Sore
* March!
* Lover, Do You Love Me?
* Jilted Lovers
* War is to Oil
* Sometimes
* Wan'drin' Eyes
* In the Light of the Moon
* Futuredance
Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
Copyright 2012, Peterborough Folk Music Society.
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November 10, 2012
IndiUp
The Indie Music Face-off Podcast
+ IndiUp Radio
Each episode of the IndiUp Podcast pits great tunes by great indie artists against each other for listener votes.
On Episode #7, track #7 played at 28:28 was Jim from the Moon's "War is to Oil"
Jim From The Moon's "War Is To Oil" won the vote. Thanks to all who voted... http://indiup.com/episode-7
======== November 2, 2012
The host of The Flyswatter show played Jim from the Moon's "War is to Oil" and said "It's amazing."
War is To Oil, off Jim from the Moon's new psychelectric album "Space, Flesh & Woe", is now available on itunes
======== October 24, 2012
Music Connection New Music Critique
of 3 tracks by Jim from the Moon
Download the PDF of the
November issue with Jim's Review
"With just a strident voice and acoustic guitar, "Thanksgiving Day" heralds an aggressive, heartsick busker, possibly with punk rock roots, looking for "the one" girl, and he wears his heart heavy on his sleeve. "Esqueleton" adds subtle effects in the track that buiid to a wild squall of a climax. "To Live To Roam" is where Jim's potential finally blossoms as a full band fills in the blanks, boosts the energy and connects the dots. No question this power strummer would do well to take his bedroom tunes and outfit them for his nimble support trio."
======== Sunday, October 21, 2012
New Release:
Jim From The Moon "Space, Flesh & Woe"
"Space, Flesh & Woe" on iTunes
Jim - Guitars/Vocals/Glockenspiel
Jeff Boyd - Drums Following up on his 2011 acoustic EP "I Am Going to Steal You," Jim's unique take on the old Irish "Sean-nos" singing, strummed and plucked to a warm acoustic guitar, Jim from the Moon teamed up with Jeff Boyd on drums and plugged it in! With his distinct vocals and willingness to explore and push conventional genres with his own unique take, this album stretches the boundaries of psych/rock. This is the 26 year old world traveler's ninth album, he is a young man with an old soul and tales to tell. The second track 'Open Sore' is available as a free download on soundcloud. ========
October 6, 2012 AKTEON
The Akteon site in Bulgaria featured
"Space, Flesh & Woe" today...
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September 28, 2012
Andy Fenstermaker played "Sometimes" during his September 28th radio show on Skagit Valley College radio stations KSVR and KSVU ========
Jim from the Moon – Space, Flesh and Woe "You can’t get much more original than Jim from the Moon. Earlier this year, the unorthodox indie rocker released a five-track acoustic EP titled 'I’m Going to Steal You'. The thing I liked most about this EP is that Jim stays very unconventional with his lyrics and the over-all direction of his sound. There are no cheesy melodies or predictable phrasing. It is simply a compilation of honesty laid over top of groovy acoustic guitar work. Jim from the Moon is back from his lunar expeditions with an electric space-rock album that boasts many of the same refreshing qualities, called Space, Flesh and Woe. This ten-track album is Jim’s ninth (which I found a little surprising considering he is only 26 years old) and explores the areas of psychedelia, rock, and pop. While those who fell in love with I’m Going to Steal You will undoubtedly miss the raw, stripped acoustics that complement Jim’s voice so well, I think listeners will be impressed with the dark, distorted guitars and blatant drum patterns that set up a heavily depressing mood throughout the album. Space, Flesh and Woe, though entirely electric, boasts that same rawness as Jim’s previous EP, and he has an eccentric voice that ties in well with the album’s unusual-sounding instrumentals. Here’s a taste of Space, Flesh and Woe. Jilted Lovers by Jim from the Moon Look for the full album out on October 1st."
- Alex, Guitar Trump
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April 15, 2012
"The best independent and unsigned acoustic music from around the world"
Jim from the Moon's ""I Like You More Than I'd like To" from "The Year I Grew My Hair Real Long" was featured today as the third track on the It's A Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast
Show 120 – Titanic struggle
Go listen!
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April 12, 2012
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" was featured today by Akteon in Bulgaria!
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April 11, 2012
Jim from the Moon's "25" and "Alarms" were featured today on ERK FM: INTERNATIONAL 231 - NEW FRONTIERS: EARTH & MOON
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April 8, 2012
Jim from the Moon's "Esqueleton" was featured today on The DIY Radio Show
"What a delightfully abrasive way to begin the show... That was Jim from the Moon with his "Esqueleton"... and it comes from his distressingly titled EP "I am going to steal you" ,... Maybe that's deeply romantic, but sounds more like kidnapping to me... He is apparently embarking on the recording of a folk/space rock debut album... now?... perhaps right now as you listen to this there is folk/space rock being created... and in a delightful tangent, the wobbly shimmer of the end of that track reminds me of Radiohead..." - Joe Skrebels, DIY Radio
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April 6, 2012
James Gentry, the Creative Director of Indie College, posted Jim from the Moon's entire EP "I am going to steal you" for everyone to enjoy at:
http://indiecollege.com/1997/jim-from-the-moon/
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April 5, 2012
Five of Jim from the Moon's tracks were featured today on Popa's Tunes including:
To Live To Roam
You Don't Hear The Dead Whine
I Like You More Than I'd Like To
New Years
Panic King Gills/A Bit Of Soul
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April 2, 2012
"TopAcousticSongs.com is where you can find good acoustic songs for your listening pleasure... Discover new artists and the best acoustic music the internet has to offer."
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" was featured today on TopAcousticSongs.com
”I woke up with a hole in my head filled with the feeling I was better-off dead you rolled over and said, it’s Thanksgiving Day. . .”
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March 30, 2012
Jim from the Moon's "Esqueleton" was featured today by Jimdo Indie Rock Music
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March 23, 2012
Jim from the Moon's "I Like You More Than I'd Like To" was featured today in The 24th episode of "The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour"
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March 19, 2012
http://www.thejustinwayneshow.com
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" was played during the live broadcast on "The Justin Wayne Show" at 8pm GMT on Monday, March 19th, 2012
http://feeds.feedburner.com/thejustinwayneshow
http://twitter.com/justinwayneshow
http://facebook.com/thejustinwayneshow
Listen to the full podcast!
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March 18, 2012
http://isthisthingonpodcast.com/2012/03/is-this-thing-on-podcast-12/
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" was featured on Nick Tann's "Is This Thing On Podcast"
https://www.facebook.com/isthisthingonpodcast
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March 16, 2012
http://impcast.com/2012/03/16/imp020-mega-mega-sode/
"The Independent Music Podcast Great independent music from around the world straight to your ear holes."
IMP020: Mega Mega ‘Sode! by Pat Krane
"Thanksgiving Day" is track #20
"The acoustic musings of Jim from the Moon... The track was 'Thanksgiving Day' off of the album 'I am going to steal you' Heard five tracks, they're great...and they were phenomenal... make sure to check them out, buy their stuff...find out more about them, that's for sure"
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March 16, 2012
http://radioorphans.blogspot.com/
"RADIO ORPHANS PODCAST IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING YOU ORIGINAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE. HOSTED BY JAW KNEE AND FINNEAUS OF THE RADIO ORPHANS."
Radio Orphans Podcast 351
"To Live To Roam" by Jim From The Moon is track #3
"I like this artist alot, too. The name and the song was pretty sweet too. It is, it's great. It's Jim from the Moon. That's right, 'To Live to Roam'..."
https://www.facebook.com/radioorphans
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March 13, 2012
http://www.cyphreinc.co.uk/podcast027/
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" is selected as one of the tracks in Cyphreinc Podcast #27!
---
Jim from the Moon's live performance of "Atom Bomb" is the third video in the playlist of Cyphreinc Podcast #27 Choon Creators Videos
https://twitter.com/#!/cyphreinc
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cyphreinc-podcasts/id319259425
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March 10, 2012
http://www.indiesouprunner.com/2012/03/conversational-pace-mix-beirut-miniature-tigers-fun-and-more.html
Jim from the Moon's "Thanksgiving Day" is selected as one of the tracks in the Indie Soup Runner's Edition "Conversational Pace Mix"!
https://www.facebook.com/IndieSoupRunner
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-soup-runner-energetic/id273278150
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March 7, 2012
http://www.guitartrump.com/homebase/jim-from-the-moon-is-going-to-steal-you/
Jim From The Moon Is Going To Steal You
"It’s always nice to kick back at the computer and just mellow out – take the time to listen to some cool new tunes. Folk-Rock singer, Jim From The Moon, is one particular artist I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Each song off of his latest E.P. I’m Going To Steal You is unique with no real pattern, but a true direction...
At 25, Jim has created some very versatile pieces that are both honest and very refreshing when compared to much of today’s cookie-cutter tunes that all seem to follow the same rules."
https://twitter.com/#!/GuitarTrump
https://www.facebook.com/guitartrump
---
March 12, 2012
@GuitarTrump said:
"I just can't get enough of this excellent E.P. by Jim from the Moon!"
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March 7, 2012
http://faronheit.com/2012/03/pick-your-poison-wednesday-3-7-12/
Jim from the Moon's Thanksgiving Day is featured as one of Faronheit's "Pick Your Poison" downloadable tracks for Wednesday, March 7th
https://twitter.com/#!/faronheit
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February 21, 2012
http://madmackerel.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/tuesday-means-eight-of-the-best/
"A heartfelt ode to the consequences of self-harming"
- The Mad Mackerel, about "Alarms" from the "I am going to steal you" EP
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-Mackerel/139720622722947
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February 13, 2012
http://www.undercover.fm/news/16115-jim-from-the-moon-is-going-to-steal-you
JIM FROM THE MOON IS GOING TO STEAL YOU
By Sally Bailey
"Jim From The Moon's bio reads as endearingly as his straight forward no B.S lyrical style. What I like about Jim is that there is not one ounce of wanker about him. We need more of that.
... The first paragraph of Jims Bio is enough to set the scene of a lad with gals on his mind and music in his blood, both of which continue to define his music to this day.
Jim makes no apologies for wanting a "pretty girl" or for having "junky looking hair" and just being a regular twenty five year old. There is something extremely genuine about the stripped back accoustic guitars and vocals that hint at an anguish yet reveal disarmingly simple stories with no corny catch lines or predictable riffage."
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