Cult followers of Poor Old Lu take notice, Aaron Sprinkle is back (not that he ever went away, having also formed the band Rose Blossom Punch). With a foundation of gentle acoustic guitars and Sprinkle's signature smooth voice, this album's blend of alternative folk pop is a winning combination. With songs ranging from the trippy Mike Knott-esque "Antennae's Wife" to the charged atmosphere and tensely strummed acoustic guitar of "All In A Day's Work," Aaron Sprinkle proves he can write and play quality songs.
The general melancholy that pervades this album is also its greatest asset, lending an air of continuity and direction to the music. At times, Moontraveler almost reminds one of an impromptu campfire song session. Sprinkle also wrote, recorded, and produced all the album's songs, along with playing all instruments. This probably accounts for why the backing instruments sound a little weak compared to Sprinkle's talented guitar playing.
With strong lyrics in the struggling-everyman vein, Aaron keeps his message fittingly tied to his music, such as in the song "Not All Bad:"
I follow lines that never end just to reach you again
I get tired and then I break down
So I will rest and in the daybreak I will find you and be
Forever your friend
So I cry myself awake
To keep from dreaming all day
And I think I'm borderline
Losing my mind
With great songwriting and original music, Aaron Sprinkle has given us a release befitting a former Poor Old Lu member. Let's hope more solo releases are forthcoming from this talented musician.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
7ball #27Reviewed by Keith GilesYou might recognize Aaron Sprinkle as the former guitarist for poor old lu, or more recently as the vocalist and guitarist for Rose Blossom Punch. But until you've heard his new solo debut, Moontraveler, it's a safe bet you have yet to hear his best. The album is a bittersweet collection of 10 songs filled with melancholy and poignant disclosures of one man's personal struggle with sin and…HM Magazine #79Reviewed by David BixlerWell, for all of you Poor Old Lu fans who are still lamenting their demise, there may be a glimmer of hope, as the long-awaited solo release from Aaron Sprinkle appears on the horizon. I remember playing the first song on this disc and having someone ask me if this was a Poor Old Lu song he had not heard! The influences are definitely evident throughout the CD, but this CD has a fresh and unique…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Israel KlossAaron Sprinkle's new album is moody. But what does one expect from the former guitar player of Poor Old Lu and front man of Rose Blossom Punch. He's a Seattle native and the rain inevitably seeps out of the bones and into the music. His new album, moontraveler, is a sleeper. It takes a few nights of sleep to appreciate it. At first listen, it drones on and on with the monotone of Sprinkle's…Similar sounding releases
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