WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LA LAs is the quirky title of moe.’s tenth studio album, which was released earlier this week. Despite the whimsical question of the album’s title, moe. has continued to answer by conjuring up new and fresh sounds with each studio release. It’s easy to overlook moe.’s skills as a songwriting unit, after all, they are one of the premier jambands around, but after repeated listen to the new album, I am reminded of how brilliant the Buffalo, NY quintet truly is.
Many of the songs included on the album have been in the band’s repertoire for years, but the effect of different perspectives leaves their most common road-worn classics sounding new and fresh.
While moe. may not be breaking new ground on this album, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LA LAs is still full of the ferocious guitar riffs, intricate rhythms and allegorical storytelling that fans have come to know and expect.
The jams throughout the album may be short on length, but they’re certainly not short of energy, as evidence on songs like “Haze” and “Rainshine.” The circus tantrum, “Chromatic Nightmare,” and the pop joyride, “One Way Traffic,” both of which add novel dimensions to moe.’s signature rock aesthetic, further energize the album.
Guitarist/vocalist, Chuck Garvey’s “Suck a Lemon”—inspired by fans during a Halloween show—closes the album. In it, the band breaks into a raucous chorus of “la la,” thereby answering the question, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LA LAs: Clearly, moe.’s still got them.
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