Luna Halo

Item: Shimmer
Author: Josh Hurst

Shimmer

(2000)

Reviewed by Josh Hurst

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Label Sparrow RecordsThe Rebel Base2001

alternative rock modern rock pop rock

Good albums come along every now and then, but it's a rare thing indeed when I hear a CD that genuinely excites me. Perhaps the rarest of all is a new band that shows so much promise that I even go as far as to declare them one of my favorites of all time. In case you didn't figure it out, I'm talking, of course, about Luna Halo.

Luna Halo's debut album, Shimmer, released in 2000, to unfortunately little hype or enthusiasm. Even I was skeptical about the album at first, but when I finally gave it a listen, I was hooked. Not only did Luna Halo exhibit genuine creativity, but they also explored spiritual topics and gave us deep discussions about serious aspects of the human condition. They accomplished all of this with excellent musicianship, ingenious, artistic production (Shimmer was produced by the currently-hot Monroe Jones), and an intense, sometimes dark honesty that is uncommon in music these days.

I can't say enough about the thoroughness and ingenuity of Luna Halo and Monroe Jones. They obviously spent a great deal of time on every track, and the attention paid to minute details pays off immensely. For example, the album's opening track, "Aliens," fades in with strange, "alien-like" sound effects, followed by a creepy, distorted guitar solo, both of which create an atmosphere that is remarkably appropriate for the song. Likewise, "Forgiveness" benefits from the moody, vibrating guitar riffs that create the impression of falling rain. This smart studio trick, coupled with the lyrics, which compare forgiveness to falling rain, constructs a mesmerizing sound that ranks right up there with some of Radiohead or Jennifer Knapp's more emotional moments.

This spirit of creativity is part of what makes Shimmer such an engrossing album. Though there are a few minor missteps (the bass line on "Forgiveness" is a rather obvious U2 ripoff, and "Complacent" borrows ever so slightly from Radiohead.), the dynamics and intricacy of Shimmer make it an album that demands repeated listens.

Underneath some of Luna Halo's sly tricks and artsy sonic wizardry there is a good old fashioned spacey pop/rock band. The band's sound could be described as a cross between the Beatles, U2, and Radiohead. Songs like "Carry Me" prove that Luna can craft a strong pop hook, "Complacent" shows that they can make electronic rock much more fun than Radiohead does, and "So Far" demonstrates that the band can rock out when they want to.

Another admirable aspect of Luna Halo is their passion for their music. Like Jimmy Eat World and Boy-era U2, Shimmer wouldn't be half as strong as it is if it weren't for the sheer energy and emotion behind it. Especially noteworthy are Johnny MacIntosh's blistering guitar solos and Nathan Barlowe's stirring vocals.

Speaking of Barlowe, the man can write some truly thought-provoking lyrics. Luna Halo makes no apologies for their Christian faith, but they're honest about their struggles. They are both highly spiritual and highly relevant- not unlike many of Bono's lyrics. "Superman" finds Nathan singing "If I was strong/ stronger than a thousand men/ would I be close to what you think I am?" Barlowe again admits his weakness in "Carry Me"- "You can carry me/ from the shallow to the deep/ cause I can only see/ when I'm standing on my knees." Another transparent statement comes in "Forgiveness," when Nathan sings that "the things you said seem to find their way back into my head/ and I regret my ways." Some of the songs may take multiple listens to entirely figure out, but it's always worth it.

Side note: Just to set the record straight, "Beautiful" is not a worship song. Many people say that it is. It isn't. Ok, end side note.

Luna Halo's new album is slated for release later this year, and I, for one, can hardly wait. Not only is Shimmer a promising debut recording, but it's better than what most veteran bands make. It's passionate, it's relevant, it's moody, it's creative, and it's an all-around excellent LP that I would recommend to any rock fan who refuses to settle for fluff.

Josh's Score: 5/5

Mark's Score: 3.5/5

Nathan's Score: 5/5

David's Score: 5/5