By MEREDITH HUMPHREY, Special to Bootleg Essential Culture
Analog Moon recorded their first album in lead singer Britton’s living room, while their latest was cut in Boston.
Wardrobe changes can go from bloody aprons to suits and ties any night of the week. And no, this is not a scene from that horror movie you saw over Halloween where the neighbor butcher goes insane. These costume changes are Analog Moon’s way of keeping their shows fresh and unique.
“We try to make our live show a good bit different. Whatever comes to mind a couple hours before show time,” said lead singer and guitarist Todd Britton. “You just have to keep everything fresh to keep people’s attention—you don’t want to give everything away at one show.”
Columbia natives Britton, Rusty Ginn, James Ervin, and Chris Jones started the group in early 2005 and released their third album, “A.M. Radio,” this October. Earlier albums included 2005’s self-titled disc and “Live at Headliners,” issued this March. “A.M. Radio” is the strongest of the three.
“We worked on writing it for almost a year before going in the studio,” said Britton “We made it a point to get out of town. Our first album was recorded in my dining room and the second was a live album.”
Britton wrote most of the songs heard on “A.M. Radio” although each of the members — and some outside friends such as Ryan Monroe who is playing with Band of Horses — bounce ideas off of one another.
“I’m constantly writing,” admits Britton. “Sometimes I have to pull over to write some stuff down. If we have some spare time before or between shows we’ll get to the club and set up and play. We don’t finish songs on the road but we spawn ideas.”
Their songs range from ’70s influenced numbers to more modern alternative rock reminiscent of My Morning Jacket, especially with the track “Timmy’s Got a Grudge.” “Flashes” leans towards the rock of the Flaming Lips with the slightest jam band feel, while a more somber psychedelic sound is found in “Floor 33,” where their Phish influences are apparent.
“We’ve been getting a lot of good feed back — we’re moving a lot of them,” Britton said of the new record. “After the first of the year we’re going to try to do a string of weekends. We try to stick to music friendly towns in the Southeast to try to get it going from the roots.”
