Nathan Moore is perhaps the most underrated songwriter of the last 10 years. While lending his talents to ThaMuseMeant and Surprise Me Mr. Davis (his electro-folk band in which avant-rockers The Slip back him), he still has enough new material to release two solo albums in as many years. The latter, You Yeah Smokin' Hot, was released digitally about a month ago. With no physical release yet and little promotion (songs from the album aren't even streaming on his MySpace page), YYSH is perhaps one of 2008's best under-the-radar releases, blending Moore's trademark song craftsmanship with tight, homey arrangements.
I've heard Moore describe 2008 as his "Gotta Make It" year when introducing the album's opening track at live shows. The song highlights his studio band's ability to play along masterfully with his dynamics and with the tempo change from the verse to chorus. The album weaves between various facets of Moore's life, from new love ("She Made Me Love"), to tales of rock excess ("Lost and Found"), to acceptance of one's tendencies ("Daydream in the Real World"), to searching for a new solutions ("Gotta Be").
"Safe and Sorry" is a perfect example of Moore's ability to put his inner self on display while sounding like he's singing for all of us at the same time. Lyrics like "Still I know these are brighter days/ Not the kind you just throw away/ We already got too much collateral damage nowadays" and "In my heart there is a war/ Don't know which side I'm fighting for/ But I'm sure I'm fighting" resonate deeply, given the times we're in.
One of the most melodically soothing songs is "Tell Me More," a sweet ode to love's little pleasures. Moore's lilting triplet guitar pattern is grounded nicely by his band's steady backbeat. It's an examination of the mystery of a new love with touching words like "Something ’bout the way you sort of smile and cry at the same time just gets me high," which evoke the feeling of excitement we get when we love something and don't know why.
Whether 2008 was actually the breakout year Moore had hoped for remains to be seen. However, after touring the country as a solo folkie act and as the free wheelin' frontman for Surprise Me Mr. Davis, gracing the cover of State of Mind magazine, and even winning the coveted Telluride Folk Festival's Troubadour Contest (which granted him a slot in front of 10,000 fans on the festival's main stage), the release of his best album since 2002's Sad Songs Make Me Happy is only icing on the cake. As one of his lyrics suggests — "I may not be a star but at least I'm not trying" — Nathan Moore is out there and doing it the way it should be done, letting the music speak for itself. Now do your part and let that music into your life — you will not be disappointed.
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