Sprightly Moans

“I Wanna Be Afraid,” the second track on the EP is the unsung hero for sure. I know just by my own natural tendencies that this will end up being the track I love the most. There’s something about the approach to this track in the chorus…but that line in particular “I Wanna Be Afraid…” it’s almost like you can hear him searching his mind for the feeling each time he repeats the line. Vocally, this EP again shows just how much a band can grow in a short time. They are beyond spot on in all three tracks, beyond rock and into the beautiful. They pull you in; it’s that same somewhat…I dunno…it’s a different approach…like…if you like the singer from The Cold War Kids, you’ll know what I mean I suppose. They sound like there’s a struggle and a battle to be won each time the mic is switched on; full of raw emotion and a trembling hint that they could just as easily break as explode.

“Love Is Nothing Without Eternity…”

How on EARTH am I going to keep a review on a three song EP to a reasonable length if you people are going to put a track as amazing as THIS on your discs? - Sleeping Bag Studios

Emotion is one of the prevalent qualities on Demos III as far as I am concerned. I know this is a fairly cliche or useless descriptor, but hear me out. While so much garage rock, punk rock, black metal, and other lo-fidelity forms of music are intrinsically emotional in one way or another, it often feels like a facade. So many modern punk bands with their pseudo-anarchistic mannerisms, roaring guitars, and deafening vocalists belting into a microphone feel empty to me. Granted, this is not every act in the genre, but it seems like the music is manufactured for the purpose of sales. As such, emotions are present but empty, used simply to lure people already in an emotional state of mind. Lyrical topics are followed quickly, with so many artists hitting on contrived and stale topics, such as governmental oppression. Sprightly Moans manages to surpass my emotional expectations with unique lyrical topics, often bordering on beautiful poetry (and sometimes surpassing the borderline) and a fairly interesting manner of expressing these thematic concepts musically under the guise of lo-fi garage rock.

Indeed, the lyrics on the whole are a point well worth noting. With each track lending some sort of evocative phrasing or idea. Additionally, the ability of the lyric producer to begin by examining a topic so worn out, then throw in his own existential perspective. I can not get "Love Is Nothing Without Eternity" out of mind, not only because of it's hauntingly simply melody, but because of the words sung throughout. They are catchy because they rely heavily on elements of folk and contemporary pop music, almost bordering on a religious tune by the likes of Michael W. Smith at moments, and it leads to an extraordinary output with the focal point being love, death, some sense of existential longing, crossing the border where nihilism (and a generalized disattachment to the physical universe) meets a longing for life. - Hear The Indie

Sprightly Moans puts together an eclectic blend of music, and does so in such a daring manner. You get that from the first sounds of "Demos III", their latest release, and while it may be short in songs, it proves to be an emblem of creative music. It’s a powerful performance piece that is hard to classify in one genre. Sure, it’s easy to say it’s rock, but it also has moments of indie, symphony, folk, and a touch for the dramatic here and there. You don’t hear this kind of passion in a lot of artists, which is why the album fits so well with me.

Not since I first heard Bradley Hathaway perform at Tomfest, have I heard such a unique mix of passion and poetic lyricism. Sprightly Moans provides a good wall of noise on “Blushes all Around”. Some may liken it to MeWithoutYou, and others may hear shades of Pedro The Lion, with a louder “White Stripes” tenacity on guitars. On “I Wanna Be Afraid” the band really stretches a bit, rolling through a variety of sounds and rhythms yet holding tight to the rock infused sound.

“Love is Nothing Without Eternity” ends this record with such a simple sound, mellow and poignant all the same. It ushers in a bit of meditative release, and presents the listener with a beautiful way to close the album. All in all, Sprightly Moans “Demos III” is an interesting piece of music, full of life, and vibrant energy. It closes on an introspective note, which will pair well with a cup of tea. It’s haunting, it’s melodious, it’s a grand example of how talented many underground artists are. I love the sounds created here, and the unique package design of their release pulls at the heartstrings of my bachelor’s degree in art. - SellOutRecords.Blogspot.Com

...I Wanna Be Afraid, which is a true masterpiece, we're really talking about a track of rare preciousness with a very special item on a guitar. Very emotional, a text that makes inroads into any heart.

The album closes with Love Is Nothing Without Eternity ...everything that you would not expect. A song that starts in an unusual way and in an unusual way! Rare beauty, no doubt about it... - Music Rev1ew

Oggi abbiamo voglia di postare e quindi ci diamo da fare.

No cicciotti è che ora ci vuole una bella recensione di una band seria e quindi scoviamo nell’underground più profondo per beccarci i Sprightly Moans.

Quanto sono cazzuti? Un casino.
Che genere fanno? Un genere figo. - Mike Giord

Gli Sprightly Moans sono una band interessante non si può dire altrimenti. - Musicrev1ew

Along the intricately tangled roots buried deep within the origins of rock, emerges a powerful force known as Sprightly Moans. The Austin, Texas duo has just unleashed the latest single “I Wanna Be Afraid” From their upcoming album Demos III scheduled to be unveiled January 30th, 2014. If the single is any indication as to what Sprightly Moans intends to bring to the discriminating ear, be ready for a chilling meet and greet filled with a perplexing, yet fascinating musical experience. Laced with a mysterious voyage through the inner-workings of darkness and desire, the single is surprisingly accented with energetic twists and turns.

“I Wanna Be Afraid” is a carefully crafted Hard Rock piece that lyrically dances with the taboo while also redefining the rules of engagement for avid rock consumers. The use of conscious wordplay and elaborate vocal changes throughout the song worked in a cohesive manner with the instrumental elements to produce a flight of the imagination into an unchartered realm. The lyrics work effectively to blanket the atmosphere with a heavy, shadowy cloud that becomes surprisingly weightless as the chorus lurches in. When a band can actually make the tiny hairs on your neck stand up, it is fairly certain to say that they have delivered.

Sprightly Moans, who on their official website sprightlymoans.com fittingly illustrate themselves as a rumble between Jimi Hendrix, Lightning Bolt, The White Stripes, and The Bad Plus are an eclectic pair who, while known for being Hard Rock, have daringly innovated an experimental undertaking. Most certain to be one of the most coveted records of our generation, Sprightly Moans latest single “I Wanna Be Afraid” is a fearless expression of sound rooted in the core of rock. From the thrashing guitars and wicked drums, to the hauntingly moaned vocals, Sprightly Moans has managed to capture the classic elements of Hard Rock while giving fans a contemporary snapshot into their ever- growing catalog of musical prowess. Keep an ear tuned for their upcoming album Demos III due out January 30th, 2014. - Glitter and Stilettos

Sprightly Moans are a rock duo based in Austin, TX, where the motto “Keep Austin Weird” adorns countless T-shirts and the bustling music scene encourages experimentation. Sprightly Moans keep their sound based in the harder realms of garage rock, with Jeff Olson’s drums invoking the frantic percussive work of vintage James Gang or Bill Ward’s work with Black Sabbath. Carving out their own grungy, modern take on psychedelic hard rock, they explore the wilderness between chaotic power and gentle melody, falling somewhere between bands like The Golden Grass and Gozu. Sprightly Moans play music for beer drinking, high-fiving, and billiard disputes, capturing the raucous spirit of a bar at last call, with rhythms that roll with tumbleweed abandon and riffs that can punch holes through sheet metal. On Demos II, their sold-out limited edition follow up to the predictably titled Demos I, the duo share three tracks of amplified rebellion. - mistergrowl.blogspot.com

Sprightly Moans, the musical outlet of duo Dave Wirth and Jeff Olson, is a strange rock act with it’s sight on deconstructing the philosophical underpinnings of music, as well as the common economic structure found within the music industry. Demos II, an aptly titled mini-album of sorts, showcases 3 tracks from this band with a brief but definitive run time of about 12 minutes. At times through my multiple listens through this music it can be difficult to really pin it down. From the opening minutes, the influence from garage punk and metal bands was obvious, but this is also something more than just that. The band describes some of their influences as being Jimi Hendrix, Lightning Bolt, The White Stripes, and The Bad Plus; and no doubt I can certainly see how these artists may have impacted their tunes. To again quote Sprightly Moan’s biography, “[the band] nurtures a spark of nihilism that we all yearn for in a rock and roll band; It’s music that’s ready to throw down, give it all up, and burn everything in sight.” The question I have is this: how well does Demos II by the Sprightly Moan’s get across this notion of nihilism, while still creating music worth listening to by even a small collection of indie music fans? Let’s find out.

Production/Composition

From the first moments of Demos II on the track “Brinksmanship” I was immediately met with an abrasive, cold, and industrial sound. It is not a very “warm” sounding album by any stretch of the imagination. The bass that is present is low in the mix, so much of the sound is found in the oddly distorted electric guitars, dry sounding drums, and vocals. That is not to say the production is “bad,” but it will certainly not be for everyone. In essence, it has a sound of being produced in a live setting, as if Sprightly Moans went to a local bar, set up a mic, and just started playing their music. For fans of garage rock and similar lo-fi, underground artists; this will no doubt be appealing. But, indeed, this will never find it’s way to radio with a sound like this; unless the band hijacked a radio station and started broadcasting themselves, and I suppose that would be possible with these punk rock, nihilistic tendencies. But, I digress. As for the compositions, they are really solid across the board. It took a few listens to really get into the lower quality production values, which is strange in and of itself as I commonly listen to lo fi music like early black metal recordings and punk rock. The track “Twin Kilns” is very entertaining to my ear. It has some very catchy riffs, enough sporadic and dissonant melodic lines, and really solid vocals to keep me thirsty for more. Indeed, none of the tracks are particularly complex; but they have an emotional tendency that is great to hear in this style of music.

Instruments/Vocals

This is a fairly straightforward rock album when it comes to the instrumentation presented. However, Sprightly Moans does a satisfying jobs of keeping the short list of instruments interesting by some high quality riffs, memorable drum segments, and some great vocals to boot. On the topic of drums, as I listen through “Dots and Dashes” yet again, I can’t help but pick up on the complexity of the drum parts. Much of the song feels like a long fill, but constant movement and odd sounding time signatures being presented on the percussive kit; that it really comes to showcase the talent of their drummer. Most of the guitar licks have a grunge rock tendency, sort of like listening to Jimi Hendrix paired up with Nirvana or Pearl Jam. This all seems to mesh well together when it enters into the punk rock atmosphere. It is sort of difficult to describe, but I think I have some sense of why this album works in my mind.

At the end of the day, you’ll probably come back to listen for the great vocals here. In the early moments of “Brinksmanship” I was questioning whether or not I liked the voice. Part of this is because of the mix of the vocals, but also because they seem a bit off tune early on in that track. But, as the track and, well, album continues forwards they become far more melodic, in tune, and just excellent for the style.

Overall Impression

Demos II by Sprightly Moans is a surprisingly interesting garage rock album. Assuming the title of “Demos” isn’t just some sort of tongue in cheek joke and that these three tracks are actual demos, then this will come highly recommended in the context that we should expect some higher quality productions down the road with a full length album or EP. Indeed, for what it is at the moment, I find that there are many things to enjoy. And on the flip side of the coin, there are things many people will not like as well such as the lo fi production and generally abrasive and nihilistic tones. As far as I am concerned, though, I enjoy it. Moments of melodic and atmospheric vocalizations like on the track “Twin Kilns” are very emotionally satisfying. At points, it was comparable to liste - www.heartheindie.com