Customer Reviews

Creature

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, don't believe the incorrect and false comparisons to bands like Third Eye Blind, Tonic and Matchbox 20. Moist isn't even remotely within the same wavelength as those wannabe rock bands. This is high-quality rock music. David Usher's modest, sincere yet almost fondly deranged vocal style make this album stand out from that previous to this release. The superb guitar style and musical composition also a factor on this hard, edgy release. There really isn't a bad track on the album. The standouts and best tracks are the big singles "Leave It Alone" "Resurrection" and "Tangerine" but tracks like "Creature" "Shotgun" and "Ophelia" deserve acclaim and recognition as well. "Disco Days" is very soft and disturbing in a wonderful way. The piano brings the emotion out with every firmly pressed key. It is definitely worth purchasing if you like strong and powerful rock music, but if you're expecting something along the lines of the bands mentioned above, then this probably isn't what you're looking to hear.

Creature is definitely a departure from Silver. It's a lot softer in places but it's still one rocking album. Hits like Leave It Alone, Resurrection, Tangerine, etc. makes this one of my favourite albums of all time. It takes you from a soft and quiet place in one second and then it sends you into a loud, powerful place the next second. David Usher's voice is truly amazing and he proves that he can sing mellower, softer tunes just as well as he can scream in the harder tracks. Overall, the band shows that it has evolved into one with a dynamic sound.

okay, what can i say, moist is my favourite band right now.... creature is an amazing and totally solid album, and david usher has an amazing voice. listening to all three of the albums plus dave's solo album just makes me so happy all the time.... anyhow, i saw moist live this summer (july 2) at edgefest in barrie, ontario and they played a bunch of stuff from creature that made me fall in love with the album all over again (and make a point of buying silver and mercedes five and dime). now, creature's not my favourite moist album, mercedes five and dime is, but since i love all three (or four) albums by the band (or just dave), i must say it's pretty amazing..... do yourself a favour and find some way to get the other albums that aren't available in the usa through canadian sellers....

I first heard of Moist last Christmas (or Hanukka, or whatever...). My friend taped me a mixed tape with 'Resurrection' on it. I fell in love with the song the first time I heard it, and I got 'Creature' right away. I absolutely admire the whole band (especially Dave...) and today, I'm one of their biggest fans. I also own 'Silver' and 'Little Songs', and I love them both, but 'Creature' is in my first place.

The expectations (in Canada) for Moist's sophomore album were high. Having owned this most excellent CD since the day of it's Canadian release (October 1, '96) -- and still listening to it on an almost daily basis nearly two years later -- I must say that the quintet more than met the challenge that they, in fact presented themselves with in the wake of their debut album's success. With this second release, the growth of the band, musically and personally, is quite evident. The sound has matured, but the very heart of the music has remained true.

The album opens with Hate, a track whose title prepares the listener for a CD not of superficial words that sound good together, but a recording unafraid to bare raw emotion. Such deep feeling is exposed on Creature's fourth track, Leave It Alone, a song whose message in a very general sense is about losing loved ones to disease (specifically, AIDS), but in reality deals with events involving friends of the band. As the ! listener, I would have to say that Leave It Alone is the defining song of the album; the one that from a musical perspective begins softly, builds, and draws you into its climax, but from a personal viewpoint is enough to bring you to tears. This song understands. Anything that can be so effective, in my opinion, represents somewhat of a musical perfection achieved... but it's beyond that. It's something that has the ability to work its way into your heart, and remain there.

This is not to say the album simply plays on the listener's emotions by falling into the atmospheric depression song fad of this decade - far from it. Creature's third track, Resurrection, finds a more upbeat, percussion-driven melody that would sooner find you bopping your head in time to the rhythm than sitting in contemplative quiet. The hard-edged rock of Ophelia lets loose a grooving sort of anger that you can't help but give in to. Theme From Cola is a fun song, carried by some wild and wicke! d guitar stylings. In Shotgun one finds a catchy lyrical w! orking, but it is Tangerine, the album's eighth track, that is the clincher. From the haunting cello of its beginnings, to the appropriately soothing piano interlude serving as the calm before the climax, and to the pumping percussion throughout, this song just plain rocks.

Slowing the pace down a bit, the songs of Creature, Better Than You, Baby Skin Tattoo and Disco Days have been interspersed into just the right places. Creature carries its own unique sound, making good use of a trumpet (an instrument seemingly gaining more popularity among mainstream tunes), while coupled together, Better Than You and Baby Skin Tattoo allow for a relaxing ride before the far heavier sound of Ophelia. In its bare piano and vocals structure, it is perhaps Disco Days' simplicity that gives it incredible power. The opening lyrics "And we'll turn away, yes it's hard in here..." present a situation that most likely anyone, at some point in their life, could relate to. Relating! is what this album is all about, from the opening Hate to the closing Gasoline, the latter proving to be classic Moist. Continuing with the pattern started with their debut album's finale of Low Low Low, Gasoline is quiet, low-key, but with enough painful introspection to not be categorized as boring. In its original version (the song was later re-recorded as a radio single, with more instrumentation added), the subtle acoustic guitar and soft vocals are the perfect setting for the lyrics that question "And tell me did I hurt you, hurt you, your machine will die / And tell me what I've wasted, tell me..." The song gently fades away, bringing a peaceful close to an album that covers many emotions.

So simply said, why do I like it? It makes me smile, it makes me cry, it has me rocking and it mellows me out. What Moist delivered in the 12 tracks of their sophomore CD is absolutely amazing. In this album, band mates David Usher, Mark Makoway, Kevin Young, Jeff ! Pearce and Paul Wilcox have a lot to be proud of.

When I first bought this record I immediatley fell in love with how much Moist had evolved on their second record with songs like Resurrection and Tangerine. User's passionate lyrics, and the grinding guitars created some great mosh pit rockers. However, the rest of the album is burried under the weight of the bands lofty goals. Hate is an uneven, jagged rock song that just doesn't work and the title track's chorus is so ludicrous that is loses any appeal(plus, the horn section just doesn't isn't happening). The standout track though is Gasoline, a laid back break from the mosh pit madness that signalled the bands descent into lighter sounding fare.

Although the album is really good... especially Tangerine and Leave It Alone... it just can't be better than Silver. I was lucky enough to see Moist in concert for free at the CNE in '94 before they were really popular. I bought Silver when it first came out, so I knew and loved all the songs on the album before I went, so I had the time of my life. Creature, in my opinion doesn't have as much playability as Silver, which I still listen to on occasion.

This CD is great! It's even better than Silver (and Little songs). My personal favourites on the album are Leave it alone and Gasoline, but let's face it, all the songs are great. David Usher writes great lyrics and I really like his voice too. Is it just me or do Canadian bands rock? (Americans aren't the only one's who are patriotic). Oh yeah, the new album is comming out on June 29. Do yourself a favor and go buy it.

I'd been looking forward to getting this CD for a long time, and it has proved to be one of the most intriguing, fun, loud, etc. etc. etc CDs that I have! Although I've gone through it once so far, considering I got it about 45 minutes ago (the fact that I'm writing this now proves how awesome it is!), I already love all the songs, from the rocking, get up and dance songs (Theme From Cola, Resurrection, Shotgun); to the mellow, meaningful slower songs (Leave It Alone, Disco Days, Gasoline); to the dark, threateningly truthful songs (Tangerine, Ophelia, Better Than You). This album has a great selection of songs, and awesome guitar lines. Favorites include Resurrection, Leave It Alone, Creature, Shotgun, Disco Days, Tangerine, Better Than You...ok, almost all the CD!! This is a must-buy!! =)

I won free tickets to a Moist concert about 3 years ago and was very impressed by what I heard. I went out and bought Silver(which I guess is no longer available in the U.S.) and listened to it constantly. When Creature was released, I didn't buy it immediately because I didn't think I could enjoy it as much as Silver. Well, it has surpassed Silver and I have added it to my top CD's. When people ask who they sound like, I can not answer that because they have a sound of their own.