Anthem of the Moon
Anthem of the Moonis quite a departure for Oneida. Their last album, the mind-blowingCome On, Everybody, Let's Rock, was the first great unashamedly retro rock & roll record of the 21st century, striking the stance of every hoary old dinosaur from Humble Pie to ZZ Top in its quest for dumb rock nirvana. These Brooklyn-born loft dwellers are a contrary lot, though, and in the year-long interim--during which they rereleased their very likeableEnemy Hogsfull-length--Oneida have hung up their leather jackets, turned their backs on the bright lights of New York City, and embraced the arcane rituals and psychedelic reverie of paganism. If its creators are to be believed, the largely excellentAnthem of the Moonwas recorded to tape reel amid a circle of ancient stones in the woods of New England. Beyond the rasp of their staple instrument, a wheezing garage-punk organ, the four members of Oneida tear roaring feedback licks from their instruments, drawl half-remembered mystic mantras, and pile on trippy, multitextural instrumental sludge till the bludgeoning "People of the North" and the hypertense two-key organ-thumper "Still Rememberin' Hidin' in the Stones" practically tear at the seams. Oneida might be going back to nature, but the monumentally heavyAnthem of the Moonsure ain't no picnic: this psychedelic reward is only for seasoned, brave sonic explorers.--Louis Pattison