Monday, June 16, 2014

Album Review: "Magical Dirt" by Radio Moscow

Magical Dirt by Radio Moscow
Please set your Wayback Machines for 1967.

For today's album review, we have the latest release by Radio Moscow.

Formed in 2003 in Story City, Iowa, of all places. They have been writing and recording for over ten years now.

Magical Dirt is their fifth studio album and their first release since 2012's 3 X 3.

For people who have grown up in this day and age, millennials, this record might seem very strange upon the first listen. Radio Moscow are delightfully retro in 2014, as they were in 2011 when I discovered their release, The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz. Based on this album, not much has changed....



Radio Moscow
Is it really surprising that a band from Iowa has turned to psychedelic music?

I'm going to go with no.

Magical Dirt starts off exactly the way fans of the band would want it to, and frankly it never stops.

There is no one in the game right now that can get the delicious fuzztones of Parker Griggs. Not even Gary Clark Jr. with his three fuzz pedal chain can get this.

I'm going to say it. Not even Jimi Hendrix got this juicy of a guitar tone. (If I'm not struck dead, I'll continue on with this album review.)

Soaked in wah, fuzz, and a touch of reverb. Griggs has dialed in the perfect sound for psychedelia.

Beyond his effect laden electric guitars, he's also pulled out an acoustic for a few numbers which made for a great change of pace.

The rhythm section of Anthony Meier and Paul Marrone have only been in the fold since 2013, but they seem to have gotten the gist of what this band is all about. There was absolutely no change in quality in their contributions.

Griggs's vocals have changed very little if at all, as did (not?) his delivery. he still sings in places most vocalists choose not to sing on. He still screams it loudly and proudly.

After several albums, it has become very clear that Parker Griggs is hearing a concert in his head and we are lucky that he's sharing it with us.

Release: 6/17/14
Genre: Rock, Acid Rock
Label: Alive-Natural Sound
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