John Moessner: "Welcome to the Johngle"

Nashville’s got a brand new offering unlike anything I’ve heard from Tennessee: No, it’s not silky smooth American Idol pseudo-country or more contemporary Christian blather, it’s powerpop that would make John Vanderslice pick up the phone. Pull the curtains, enter John Moessner.

John Vanderslice may be a good comparison. “Welcome to the Johngle” is the first offering from a Tennessee native who, like Vanderslice, runs his own studio and uses his knob turning agility and ample instrumentation to bolster his low-fi tenor. What comes out is something between Brian Wilson , Jellyfish, and Sufjan Stevens .

Orchestral pop has made a comeback over the last few years, and there are a lot of messy underproduced jumbles of emotion out their trying to be the next Bon Iver . It’s nice to hear someone who is willing to use a few dozen instruments and spend the time and effort to make them sound good.

Moessner’s voice is reminiscient of Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) – a band that I personally can’t stand thanks to a college roommate who would exclusively listen to, on principle, the Bare Naked Ladies or Jimmy Buffett. Nothing else. (Thanks Brian, wherever you are). So John had an uphill battle to win me over. But diamonds like “My First Attempt, ” “For the Boy, ” (written for his son), and my personal favorite, “Is The Universe Friendly?” , Moessner’s mix of unabashed love songs, tongue in cheek lyrics, and Sgt. Pepper orchestrations make me happy.

I could see this album getting picked up by an indie label somewhere and getting some traction on college radio. Until then, let me announce it: Welcome to the Johngle.

Old Man