Onieda - Anthem of the Moon - Jagjaguwar Records

Review by: Dave Morgan

Oneida play a perculiar brand of psychedelic rock that takes a bit of getting used to. The first few times I heard them I wasn't sure if liked them or not. I was pretty sure I did, but the doubts remained. With their newest record, Anthem of the Moon, out on Jagjaguwar Records, I'm damn sure they're one of the best bands making music today.

I've read where they refered to themselves as "Maximum D&D" and I think that that is a perfect description. On Anthem... they've moved away from the self-conscious "ROCK!" feel of some of the earlier efforts. While they still know how to rock, its in a different way - now played with distorted organs instead of trashy guitars (though the trash guitars pop up now and again.)

This album starts off with some of the more upbeat songs, particularly effective is "All Arounder." They hit their stride with the third song, though. "Geometry" is a mid-tempo psych-pop song with great bouncy vocals and wonderful halftime chorus. Video game sounding organs bounce all over the place.

If I had to go through and name all the great bits on this album we'd be here all day. Highlights (besides those already mentioned) are "Rose and Liqorice," a slow fuzzy number, "Still Rememberin Hidin in the Stones," a great piece of almost chaotic rock, and the twelve minute guitar workout "Double Lock Your Mind."

Lots of bands are hinted at here including Hawkwind, early Pink Floyd and maybe some Soft Machine thrown in for good measure but Oneida moves beyond all those and has come up with something all their own. They know the past but don't live there. This is easily one of the best records to come out in recent memory.