Nashville's Moon Taxi Blends Smooth and Scratchy Quite Capably

When the initial notes of Moon Taxi's "Too High" come fluttering in you're thinking: "How suave. This is the sort of tune that would sound fabulous while I'm nursing a vodka tonic at the local bar/pub." That's an easy conclusion to draw based on the power of vocalist/guitarist Trevor Terndrup's fine riff spinning alone. You can already see the lipstick smudge on the female patron's napkin. Would that a young stud was around to make kiss history. Trevor goes to the lyrical hall of cliches just a bit with sentiments such as "We can walk together with our hands up in the sky." Reference gets made to the world spinning out of control and needing someone to help you feel all warm inside. Heard it but as Moon Taxi offers up its interpretation I'm convinced it was worthy of adding to the pile that already has served this war cry up. "Two High" isn't entirely trying to woo you into its satin sheet endowed bed. There's a crunchy side to this well played edible. Programmer Spencer Thomson and keyboardist Wes Bailey deserve the lion's share of the credit for that truism. Pure beef blasting from those instruments. Really feisty and difficult to resist. In the studio I suspect a lot of polish went into making sure the finished product ended up gleaming like a fresh cut gem. Trevor's words calm even the most angst-riddled disposition. You sense that light at the end of the tunnel really isn't some torturous myth conjured up to bring false hope to the emotionally desperate. "Too High" comes across as an ideal selection for a winter's night curled up by a warm fire. Trevor's voice and guitar match beautifully in this scenario. Drummer Tyler Ritter has a nice accompanying presence that slides across the melody like Stubb's BBQ sauce slathered across a brisket plate. Whether in plugged in gritty mode or light as angel food cake. Trevor easily sets a mood no woman could refuse. Moon Taxi makes "Too High" look too easy, and that's not a condemnation on my part. Moon Taxi's tight teamwork carries the day. High fives all around for "Too High". That's what's called making studio time count for something.