MOTH – Immune To Gravity

Moth Singed By Same Old Flame

MOTH continues to mine the ‘70s and ‘80s on its fifth full-length release, Immune To Gravity, which would be fine if MOTH imprinted its mark on that sound, as Wolfmother and The Killers have done. Unfortunately, the band’s own personality is scarcely evident.Early on, “Girl On Girl,” a song uncomfortably derivative of The Buzzcocks and Jim Carroll (especially Carroll’s “People Who Died”) nearly derails the album. The lyrics are juvenile and prurient, and the out-of-nowhere ending, “I’m not being executed, I’m being shot!”—a perhaps unintentional paraphrase of a Chris Rock joke— fails its seeming attempt to replicate The Beatles’ “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!”

“Sticks and Stones” is better, juxtaposing a springy beat with insight about modern life’s frustrations: “I’ve got 4,321 things distracting me, attracting me!” complains lead singer Brad Stenz, sounding vocally like Carroll mixed with Tom Petty. “Helpless” is a driving rocker propelled by heavy guitars, and “Revolution”’s bouncy synthesizers would fit in perfectly at any bar’s ‘80s night.

MOTH offers a glimpse of distinctiveness on “Supermodel,” a funny power pop/punk hybrid about a poor schmuck whose girlfriend is obliviously self-absorbed (“I say, ‘Marry me,’ you say, ‘Oh, shut up and take my picture”). “Perfect” and “How Could You?” are pretty power ballads, and “Constantly On,” the album’s strongest track, uses a pop-tinged chorus to offset its head-thumping angular rhythms.

The rest of the songs are generic indie rockers that are fun but unmemorable, and the lyrical references to moths seem more precious than clever. MOTH is definitely an accomplished band, but the accomplishments on Immune To Gravity would be better if the band had asserted its individuality.