Unless your youth group or organization has sponsored one of his concerts, comedy or speaking engagements, chances are you've never heard of Ron Moore. Yet he has made nine independently-released albums. His latest, Mystery, is further proof that some of our best and most meaningful artists do their work in relative obscurity. There is nothing new or groundbreaking in Moore's mix of acoustic folk blues rock, but there are many pleasant surprises that set him apart from the more pedestrian performers of this time-honored genre.
First of all, Moore's talent as a song-writer is evident in eleven
out of eleven songs on this disc. His lyrics are carefully and poetically
constructed, consisting mostly of encouraging themes like the glories of
the resurrection, missions work and the value of good-old fashioned friendship.
Moore is a "missionary kid," actively involved in worthy causes like World
Vision, and an outspoken advocate of pro-life causes. Consequently, his
songs bear many message-oriented motifs which are powerfully delivered,
gratefully without resorting to an abundance of cliches or with heavy-handedness.
A perfect example is "Let's Go Shopping," which contrasts U.S. American
consumerism and apathy with world problems such as the abortion epidemic:
They create God in their own image
Then start a war and blame it on religion
Genocide, earthquake, famine
Innocent children crying
Let's go shopping
Let's go to the malls
Let's go shopping
Before the ax falls.
Something the author intends to be this obviously satirical is given a helping hand by smartly crafted pop sensibilities which help make the song more accessible and the message more palatable. The result is an album highlight worthy of thoughtful consideration and the repeat button. Even better is "Mary," which gives Jesus' mother wonderful praise for her humble role as the God-bearer, and "Full Moon in Romania," with its lush harmonies warmly recalling moments in the mission fields of Eastern Europe.
Moore has clearly been refining his craft for years, and his solid
6-string acoustic guitar work testifies to his talent. Band-mate Colin
Sapp offers a variety of well-played 12-string acoustic licks and all the
electric guitar work; Randy Gancarz appears on most of the tracks as the
bass player. Together, these three guitar players sound like they've been
practicing and playing together for years. Maybe they have--regardless
they sound great together. Even more delightful is the percussion work
by John Cassidy who plucks and pounds everything from congas and bongos
to didjeridoos and djembes. He also creates some unusual sounds, such as
that of a cymbal dipped in a bathtub while ringing.
Collectively, the music most recalls the earliest works from folk
rockers like Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, America, Phil Keaggy,
Randy Stonehill, and Bruce Cockburn. This is due largely to the beautiful
interplay of the melodies and harmonies with the gentle strumming and eclectic
percussion, and is most eloquently executed on the mellower songs collected
in the album's center. You might call this retro classic folk rock verging
on alternative edginess, and a welcome return to musical traditions less
commonly visited these days. Or you could just appreciate this diverse
collection for its pleasant melancholy vibes, nearly alternative luxurious
wakes of sound, rich harmonies and poetic imagery.
And that's only half of the album! The other half is injected with gobs of joy and healthy whimsy. Moore is also possessed with an incurable case of the "happies," demonstrated in a number of silly songs like "The Wrangler" and "Kooties:"
Kooties, you've got kooties
Kooties all over you
Kooties, tiny kooties
Kooties, crawlin' over you.
A market-savvy producer would take Ron Moore's vibrancy and turn
it into a drab CCM vanilla. Gratefully, he is allowed to be himself here,
whether invoking elegant moods, encouraging or rebuking the saints, or
just having a bit of playful fun. Let's hope he delivers nine more albums
with his delightfully retro sound and excessive joy intact.
By Steven Stuart Baldwin (1/21/99)
To order a copy, send $10 for cassette or $15 for CD to:
Airborn
Box 930
Fenton, MI 48430
For booking and management, contact Greg Menza & Associates at
revagent@aol.com
or (931) 840-5409.
