Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Jon and Roy's Another Noon

This album review appears in March's Discorder!

Jon and Roy
Another Noon
By Andrea Warner

Jon and Roy new album, Another Noon, is reminiscent of great folk music like Simon and Garfunkel or Cat Stevens. Another Noon is a quiet and engaging companion to a day spent inside watching the rain fall, or drinking coffee while holding hands with someone adorable.

The album’s opening track, also doubles as the album’s title, and is an engaging little ditty, while “DT Stylee” offers up handclaps, a winner every time. The countrified “Little Bit of Love” is a foot-stomping charmer.

The entire percussion section comes out in “Moonlight”, and the guitar sounds like a literal interpretation of someone moseying down a backcountry road. On “Long Road”, moseying gives way to galloping horses. “Thanks For That” offers up a lovely and bittersweet lilting shrug.

The interesting give and take between Jon’s voice and his guitar contrasts nicely with Roy’s restrained percussion. If anything, the guitar is sometimes too omnipresent, almost obliterating Jon’s voice on several tracks. However, the biggest criticism Another Noon might face is the “sameness” of the songs—they’re not terribly distinguishable from each other on first or third listen.

That said, Another Noon is consistent and cohesive—there’s not a single song that feels out of place. Throughout, the guitar and drum offer something quick, like feet skipping, and it’s easy to imagine Another Noon scored across a cheeky and poignant independent film. Almost every song gives the illusion of moving forward while looking fondly behind you. The implied motion somehow provokes happy feelings, the album’s very quaintness catching on like a smile.

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