You 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 redemption.
The album's message is summed up in "Solace." I can't decide if You're the missing piece buried in my mind/ Immersed in sand I try to reach, try to take Your hand/ And it makes me ill the way You love me still/ Solace came with a drop of blood and a taste of shame/ When You took my turn, You struck a match and you let it burn.
For his solo effort, Aaron has forsaken the hook-laden guitar-crunching pop of his previous bands' efforts and opted for a more stripped-down acoustic palette of sounds. But have no fear. This album still rocks like anything Sprinkle has lent his hand to. The result is a wistful blend of Jason Faulkner-ish simplicity meshed with the alternative flair of Beck or Mike Knott. Regardless of the influences Sprinkle draws from, the results are like powerful grenades of lyrical confession lobbed into the heart that explode with passion and brutal sincerity.
Other coverage for this album
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 Joe RockstrohCult 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…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
1998SemisonicFeeling Strangely Fine
2004Original Mark EdwardsRewind Tomorrow
2002David CrowderCan You Hear Us?
2005GoldrushOzona
2004Andy ZipfI Stole the Morning Sun
1999SwitchfootNew Way To Be Human
