Clocking in at nearly 74 minutes, the fifteen tracks that comprise Moondog make up Joseph Huber's most ambitious work to date. The album is incredibly diverse and showcases Huber's trademark storytelling amidst a variety of different settings and soundscapes. The heart of Moondog is rooted in what we've learned to love from Joseph Huber over the years... infectious fiddle and mandolin hooks, narrative lyrics that allow the listeners to transport themselves into the songs, folksy grooves, and a healthy dose of harmonica sprinkled in as well. However, don't be surprised if you hear some different arrangements on Moondog and even some electric guitar and pedal steel thrown into the mix as well. Moondog offers listeners a more mature view of the world with raw sincerity and a sense of earnestness that only Joseph Huber can deliver.
"We graced the fiddle with a dance, and the song that we sung, Served to remind us that we're not yet unyoung, And the music flowed through us like a river runs, For a river knows that the waters are one," Huber sings on "When the Waters Were One," the second track off of his latest release, Moondog. In many ways, these lines encapsulate much of the record, as Huber wrestles with themes of life, love, experience and a more broad world view against the symbolism and beauty of his north-central Wisconsin roots that often serve as a muse for Huber's compositions. From start-to-finish, Moondog is an engaging listen and an album that invites listeners to relisten, reflect and revisit songs as, like the life and times in which they were written, things aren't always so straightforward.
Highlight tracks include the title track, "Moondog" which leads off the record. This tune is as catchy as they come and tells the tale of a true rambling man. It's primed to be a staple of Huber's live set and a darn fun number. "Another Man's Shoes," is an ode to considering others' perspectives and the importance of empathy. "A Northwoods Waltz" is also poised to be a classic Huber live track, with homages to Huber's frequent excursions and upbringing in northern and central Wisconsin. It's already become one of my new favorite tunes and is an ear grub if there ever was one. "Geronimo" is a rocker which features electric instrumentation and a driving beat which places it as an uplifting centerpiece on the record. "Rivers of Smoke's" reflective imagery runs deep and also stands out as an exceptionally reflective and heartfelt tune. Huber even takes the words of famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats and sets them to a song in "The Wild Swans At Coole" which precedes the hauntingly beautiful climatic finale of "Pale, Lonesome Rider," the last track on the record.
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| photo by Sara Zarling |
What's amazing, masterful, and unique about Moondog is that it is written, arranged, recorded, and produced by Joseph Huber, making it a true DIY project in the purest sense of the term. Huber has always prided himself in being his own person and having complete creative control on his records. This sense of independent spirit and passion holds true on Moondog and makes it both one of Huber's finest releases to date as well as a stalwart testament to love, life, nature and the power of the human spirit.
You can purchase Moondog by visiting http://www.josephhubermusic.com. Huber will be playing the famously awesome Anodyne Coffee location on Bruce Street on Thursday, August 1st. Tickets are available here:
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