It is hard to think of the iconic voices of modern/indie rock outside the context of their main band. Finding the space to create something new and come off as unique when being defined by one act has made some of rock’s superheroes come off as mere mortals…
Julian Casablancas comes to mind. You can now add
EL VY, the first such offering from
Matt Berninger of
The National. EL VY is a new band (not a solo album) with
Brent Knopf of
Menomena, and the cards are certainly stacked against success.
Return To The Moon instantly falls in the “grower” category. Will this record change your life? No. Will it become the earworm that will haunt you for weeks to come? YES. “I’m the Man To Be” brushes on Berninger’s masculinity in a most radiant sunshine daydream. “Sleeping Light” sounds like a step into the non-ironic 70’s time machine we all wish could share with
Michael Kelso. The proto-pop title track has had many a male-patterned balding noggin bopping at 8 MPH over the speed limit from Subarus across this fine land, a testament to Knopf’s undeniable hook as much as the familiarity of Berninger’s vocals.
Can
Return To The Moon be classified as fun? I’ll let your new found earworm decide for you!
You can catch EL VY this Tuesday night in their Philadelphia debut at
Union Transfer.