On first listen, the Moffats’ cd, Chapter 1: A New Beginning, impressed with its fresh mix of rock, melodious pop, and even energetic ska. I was shocked to discover the polished quartet consists of 15-year-old male triplets, Bob (drums/percussion), Clint (bass), Dave (keyboards) and their older 16-year-old brother, Scott (guitar).
The band’s name may not be sexy, but it’s real, and that’s what the Moffats are about. The brothers write their own songs and actually play their own instruments, unlike many other popular teen bands. The teens are seasoned professionals; this album is already a bestseller in foreign markets, such as Spain (gold), Canada (platinum), and the Philippines (5x platinum). The Moffats worked with producer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Aerosmith) to come up with four new tracks for the album’s U.S. release.
The band’s lyrics are clich-filled, but their songs are catchy and each track sports a different sound style. The first song, “Until You Loved Me”, is misleading, with an intro hinting at country. Get past that and you hit “Misery”, with a battle-drum lead-in and heartfelt lyrics, “Mis-e-ry is what I feel/when you’re not around/so I can heal.”
International mega-hit “Miss You Like Crazy” follows, a strumming guitar ballad that’s easy to identify with, no matter what country you’re from. “Girl of My Dreams” is wistful and “Crazy” is a rockin’ Cars-like ride. Finally, “Say ‘N I Love You” offers a fun departure into the land of ska, ending whimsically, as if the power cord has been yanked.
The Moffats offer more diversity than other boy-bands, and their rock-pop sound should appeal to both teenage and older listeners. The album’s a good buy, although I didn’t care for “Raining in My Mind”, the only song co-written with their producer, Ballard.
+ Kendeyl Johansen
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