The Moon Is Down (album)

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. 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 Pop Up Records. 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."

The Moon Is Down
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)

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 February 2002, the group went on an east coast tour, before supporting Hot Rod Circuit on a two-month US tour in March and April.[7] 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
AllMusic[6]
Christianity TodayFavorable[4]
Cross Rhythms[3]
Jesus Freak Hideout[2]
Ink 19Mixed[8]
Portland State VanguardMixed[9]

Christianity Today included the album as an honorable mention on their best Christian albums of the year list.[10] Jesus Freak Hideout ranked it at number 36 on their list of the top 100 Tooth & Nail releases.[11]

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".[9] They noted the "breakdowns and buildups, big unified rhythms highlighted by the drummer’s movement around the tom toms."[9] 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."[8] 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.[8]

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Anderson, Rick. "The Moon Is Down - Further Seems Forever". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  7. "The Moon Is Down" (sleeve). Further Seems Forever. Tooth & Nail Records. 2002. DPRO 17079.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. 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.
  9. "Assignment: free write three CD reviews". Portland State Vanguard. February 22, 2002. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  10. "Top 12 Christian Albums of 2001". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on December 17, 2001. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  11. 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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