Moi? Dig the Beautyrock

Beautyrock Records sure do have a good thing going over in NYC with the characters they've got on hand. And after listening to the self-titled release from their constituents MOI?, a fuzzy feeling resonates with the promise of future beautyrocking to come.

MOI? is fronted by the illustrious Royce Peterson, who I've had the good fortune of witnessing in the live act of beautyrocking. On a hazy night in Madison, I felt myself intoxicated by his vocals. I was swayed by befuddlement, as well; was I being seduced by some sort of square-jawed, hairy female? That was at the High Noon Saloon, and I stood in the darkened corner of a venue too small for MOI?'s stage.

I remember something being sang about an angel, and Royce's gold pants glimmering as he leapt off stage, coming towards me. Sudden sobriety: Royce is a dude and he's grabbing the hottest chick in the room and bringing her on stage. The audience cheered as Royce serenaded the girl, who decked out in a schoolgirl outfit that would put any porn star to shame, and informed her (via a well-sung and well-structured verse) that he would also make love to her. I found myself jealous - of Royce - and extremely impressed. The balls on this guy!

The chutzpah is the most solid aspect of MOI?, and each band member can communicate it with just as much insight as Royce. Whether the band's sounds are heard in venues, in cars, or through headphones, they are sexually ineffable.
Not only is it the beautyrock injection of the rolling bass lines, bouncing drums, and enticing atmosphere of Moi?, it's the emotional complexity at hand that allows the whole loving vibe to ring true.

Royce makes this clear as he plays ambassador by introducing listening fans to the artistic project, saying, "I've known solitude and I've known severe overcrowding. But through it all I've wanted the same thing - affection... and by affection I mean physical affection... and by physical affection I mean, of course, sexual intercourse. With an angel."

This "Hello" kicks directly into the swinging riffs that solidify the tenderness of "This is All That I Wanted." From there, listeners are treated to a funky, and potential party-starting, "Drinking For Love," which has less to do about external liquors than one might think. The seduction almost happens to fast, as listeners are informed of Royce's dangerously high hormone levels, and immediately move into the pitch and the sway of "The Bitch and the Bull." But Moi? pulls through by keeping things juicy, moving, and polished clean. Now, how often can one say that about production values?

Yet Moi? is a unique band for many more reasons; they can produce professional mixes, maintain a valuable narrative, and keep themselves grounded in empathy and humanity. Best of all, Moi? just wants to show you the love... check out moitheband.com for pictures of the group's stars, mp3's of their songs, and a copy of their self-titled release.