Music Review // moe. "Ups and Downs"

 

There is a very distinct sound for this band called moe.  It begins with a bass line, guitar notes enter and then the piano keys follow as well.  This goes through some of the verse but then as it feels like we're hitting the chorus it really kicks in heavy.  Probably my favorite way to describe moe. and this song, "Ups and Downs", is to compare it with the sound of rock which came after grunge, that sort of idea of Hum mixed with Nada Surf.

Aside from the complexity of the music, the lyrics can really tell a story and be prophetic at the same time.   The lines: "Don't change a thing / Give it everything you got" are the mantra which you should take from this song the most.   When you think about the general idea of ups and downs, having those highs and lows, you have to just keep going-- that's often times the most important thing that you can do.  I feel like this line in the song really captures that.

During the end of the song the lines come out that say "You're giving me ups and downs" and as such this is just that type of song to consider when you're in a situation where it's either really good or really bad.  Sometimes that's better than just being in the middle, and sometimes you only really know when it's really bad because of when it's really good.  But there is something to be said for the idea that maybe it's a situation where you don't want to be in the lows any more.

Musically "Ups and Downs" is just that type of rock song we simply do not hear enough of in the world right now.  We need more rock music like this.  This makes me glad that moe. will be releasing "Circle of Giants", an upcoming full length album, soon, as it just feels like even if this music doesn't inspire other musicians to make similar sounds, it can at least inspire the listener in their day to day life and just by hearing something different.