The Moon Is Down (album)

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The Moon Is Down
Further Seems Forever - The Moon Is Down cover.jpg
Studio album by
Further Seems Forever
ReleasedMarch 27, 2001
RecordedSeptember 28-November 1, 2000
GenreIndie rock, Christian rock, emo
Length38:53
LabelTooth & Nail
ProducerJames Paul Wisner
Further Seems Forever chronology
From the 27th State
(1999) 		The Moon Is Down
(2001) 		How to Start a Fire
(2003)

The Moon Is Down is the debut album by the Pompano Beach, Florida rock band Further Seems Forever, released in 2001 by Tooth & Nail Records. It was the band's first full-length album. Vocalist Chris Carrabba had already decided to leave the band to focus on his new project, Dashboard Confessional, but joined them in the studio to record the album.[1] Dominguez left the band the following year to start the record label . The two were replaced by Jason Gleason and Derick Cordoba, respectively, for the band's next album How to Start a Fire. A music video was filmed for the song "Snowbirds and Townies."

Composition[]

Musically, the sound of The Moon Is Down has been described as emo[2] and indie rock with heavier elements.[3] The opening track "The Moon Is Down" sees the group worship God for his strength and supporting them when faltering.[4] "Snowbirds and Townies" talks about missing a girl that has been away from some time.[5] "Pictures of Shorelines" talks about a couple forced to stay apart.[4]

Release[]

The Moon Is Down was released through Tooth & Nail Records on March 27, 2001.[6] In July 2001, the band appeared at Krazyfest.[7] Following this, the band toured across the US until August; they were supported by Fairweather, River City High, and the Starting Line.[8] Between September and December, the band embarked on a cross-country US tour. They had various supporting acts during different months: The September shows were supported by As Friends Rust, Element 101 and Jameson; the October shows were supported by Ultimate Fakebook and Breaking Pangaea; the November shows were supported by the Juliana Theory, Relient K, and Ace Troubleshooter; and the December shows were supported by Dashboard Confessional, Fairweather, and Seville.[9][10]

In February 2002, the band went on an east coast tour with Brand New and Recover,[11] before touring with Hot Rod Circuit and Brand New in March and April.[12] Following this, the band performed at Skate and Surf Fest.[13] In July, they appeared on the midwestern dates of the Warped Tour, and in the following month, they toured across Europe.[14] Returning to the US, the band toured until August, with Dynamite Boy, Lost City Angels, and Breaking Pangaea; the trek included an appearances at Furnace Fest and the Round Top Purple Door Music Festival.[15][16]

Six of the album's tracks – the title-track, "Snowbirds and Townies", "The Bradley", "New Year's Project", "Wearing Thin" and "Pictures of Shorelines", as well as "Vengeance Factor" – later appeared on the group's compilation album Hope This Finds You Well (2006).[5]

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[6]
Christianity TodayFavorable[4]
Cross Rhythms7/10 stars[3]
Jesus Freak Hideout3/5 stars[2]
Ink 19Mixed[17]
Portland State VanguardMixed[18]

Christianity Today included the album as an honorable mention on their best Christian albums of the year list.[19] Jesus Freak Hideout ranked it at number 36 on their list of the top 100 Tooth & Nail releases.[20]

AllMusic reviewer Rick Anderson said it "kind of sneaks up on you", expecting another emo act with reflective feelings but lacking the attitude to craft a song with structure, until the first chorus comes: "Cathartic, tuneful, [and] soaring".[6] While the "conceit remains pretty much the same", he doesn't find it "tiresome".[6] He praised the group's "ability to combine relatively dense guitar rock with an edge of experimentalism and a deep undertow of emotional uplift" that is "more than just impressive — it's practically inspiring."[6] Cross Rhythms writer James Stafford said there was "intensity" to the band's sound, and Carrabba's voice "really bring this out."[3] He called them a "talented" act for "drawing on elements of rock, punk, hardcore" to craft "quite a good melodic rock album."[3] Christianity Today's Russ Breimeier said emo's " propensity for passion and emotion fits well" with Carrabba's lyricism.[4] He complimented the band's "solid musicianship", particularly the "strong, in-your-face" guitar work and "slick, aggressive drumming that assaults your ears like a machine gun."[4]

Portland State Vanguard said it had some " mildly mathematical compositions" with an "emotional delivery of emotional lyrics I can’t always make out".[18] They noted the "breakdowns and buildups, big unified rhythms highlighted by the drummer’s movement around the tom toms."[18] Jesus Freak Hideout staff member Sherwin Frias said upon his first listen to the album, it came across as "rather unremarkable", while noting its " melodic, yet hardly gripping" sound.[2] It is ultimately "a pleasant, yet hardly engaging listen that passes by quickly without much of a fuss."[2] Nathan T. Birk of Ink 19 wrote that it had a "time-tested formula for catharsis", noting the "sing-songy melodies", the frequent "half-time/down-tempo transitions", and Carrabba's "Geddy Lee-via-Jeremy Enigk elfin yelp that lets you know that, hey, he’s a sensitive guy."[17] He pondering on the topic of originality: "Hardly, unless your conception of “originality” includes such latter-day emo-casualties" by the likes of Mineral and Boys Life.[17]

Track listing[]

All songs written by Further Seems Forever except where indicated

  1. "The Moon Is Down" - 3:12
  2. "The Bradley" - 3:01
  3. "Snowbirds and Townies" - 4:26
  4. "Monachetti" - 2:42
  5. "Madison Prep" - 2:54
  6. "New Year's Project" - 4:14
  7. "Just Until Sundown" (Further Seems Forever/Matthew Ian Fox) - 3:14
  8. "Pictures of Shorelines" - 3:12
  9. "Wearing Thin" - 2:59
  10. "A New Desert Life"/untitled hidden track - 8:52
  11. "Say It Ain't So"* (Rivers Cuomo; originally performed by Weezer) - 4:03
  12. "Vengeance Factor"** - 2:46

*Included on the vinyl LP release only.
**Included on the Japanese import version of the album only.

Personnel[]

Album information[]

  • Record label: Tooth & Nail Records
  • Recorded September 28-November 1, 2000 at Wisner Productions. Drum tracks recorded at The Dungeon.
  • Produced and engineered by James Paul Wisner.
  • Assistant engineer: Joe at The Dungeon.
  • Design by Mark Owens.
  • Photography by Dan Ellis.

References[]

  1. ^ Greenwald, Andy (2003). Nothing Feels Good: Punk Rock, Teenagers, and Emo. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-312-30863-9.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Frias, Sherwin (September 22, 2006). "Further Seems Forever, "The Moon Is Down" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Stafford, James (July 1, 2001). "Review: The Moon Is Down - Further Seems Forever". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Breimeier, Russ. "The Moon is Down - Further Seems Forever - Music". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on June 24, 2001. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Brandon J. (August 20, 2006). "Further Seems Forever - Hope This Finds You Well". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Anderson, Rick. "The Moon Is Down - Further Seems Forever". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Heisel, Scott (July 1, 2001). "Krazyfest 4. 'Nuff Said". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Heisel, Scott (July 25, 2001). "Further Seems Forever Summer Tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Heisel, Scott (August 21, 2001). "Further Seems Forever Tour w/As Friends Rust, Ultimate Fakebook". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Heisel, Scott (October 18, 2001). "A bunch of Get Up Kids news…". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  11. ^ Heisel, Scott (January 14, 2002). "Brand New tour update". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Heisel, Scott (February 17, 2002). "Further Seems Forever". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Paul, Aubin (February 2, 2002). "Skate and Surf Fest 2002". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 3, 2002). "Further Seems Forever added to Warped". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  15. ^ Heisel, Scott (July 25, 2002). "Further Seems Forever to tour w/Dynamite Boy/Breaking Pangaea/Lost City Angels". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Heisel, Scott (June 16, 2002). "Furnace Fest announces full lineup; I wet my pants". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Birk, Nathan T. (May 30, 2003). "Further Seems Forever The Moon is Down". Ink 19. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Assignment: free write three CD reviews". Portland State Vanguard. February 22, 2002. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top 12 Christian Albums of 2001". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on December 17, 2001. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Till, Leanor (2018). "Top 100 Tooth & Nail Records Albums of All Time". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
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