"Repairing the Sacred Hoop" (http://www.moonbirdmusic.com) is one of these heady progressive rock albums that used to dominate AOR stations before spandex metal and later grunge took over the format. Free from any concessions to contemporary pop, Moon Bird - otherwise known as James Kwiecinski - aims for transcendence and reach it most of the time.
The easiest comparison to make would be with the Talking Heads as Kwiecinski's voice does resemble David Byrne's, especially on "Turn to Gray," which is written for his wife. The drums on "Turn to Gray" have that big '80s sound, which is sadly missing from much of today's modern rock. But Moon Bird probes music on a deeper level than the Talking Heads. While the Talking Heads were self-consciously exploring multiple genres, Moon Bird creates a spiritual bond with the music, letting it venture wherever its heart desires.
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The mystical forces that envelope on "Repairing the Sacred Hoop" take rock & roll on a different level, closer to the late '60s aesthetic of freeing your subconscious.
On "Spirits of the Earth," Moon Bird uses the guitar like Pink Floyd used to, painting a picture instead of slamming heads against the wall. Oddly enough, for all of its spiritual connections, the track that'll probably get the most attention is "Fucked-Up Man," a Roger Waters-esque diatribe against President Bush's war against Iraq, bringing the otherworldliness of this disc down to Earth.
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