First Band On The Moon

Sigmund Snopek III | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B00006F2P4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #700,972 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. First Band On The Moon

2. Dr Alles

3. Living Out Loud

4. Controller's Reply

5. Highway Ghosts

6. Avenue Motion

7. Let's Take A Trip

8. The Armpit Shuffle

9. Crazy Angel

10. Ride In The Dark/Robotiko

11. Solalex

Editorial Reviews

A truly unclassifiable artist, Sigmund SNOPEK III was relatively anonymous among the popular band THE VIOLENT FEMMES. The art of this iconoclast can eventually be related to that of THE MOODY BLUES and Kevin GODLEY & Lol CREME. An obscure album issued in 1972, the now famous "Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?" was full of ambition: its heteroclite Progressive rock taking after some of the early Frank ZAPPA, rock, classical or contemporary music, ethnic music and jazz, all in an audacious blend. On "Nobody To Dream" (1975), he blends refined neo-classical tracks, classic-pop orchestrated songs, pop-songs, elegant and airy melodies. "Thinking Out Loud" (1997) includes five added tracks, compared with the original 1978 version. Two years later, the fabulous "First Band On The Moon" could be heard as a true Snopekian manifesto ! "Roy Rodgers Meets Albert Einstein" is an excellent 1982 millesime, characterized by a division in three works ("Ride In The Dark", "Roy Rodgers Meets Albert Einstein" & "Song Sing The Doldrum Ding") all more staggering the one than the other. The event of the year 2000 "Trinity - Seas Seize Sees" shows the return of the US keyboard player with Polish origin. Issued on the Musea label, this ambitious and conceptual double album was completely composed in 1973. However, only the first part was recorded in those days, the rest was completed between 1996 and 1999 and the whole work includes an impressing quantity of musicians. On it, all the characteristics of his first albums can be found with on top of that some sequences that sound almost like MAGMA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sigmund Snopek III - 'First Band On The Moon' (Musea), February 13, 2005

By 

Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: First Band On The Moon (Audio CD)

'First Band...' as it turns out,is actually a reissue of Snopek's obscure 1977 lp.Can you beat that?I've heard OF his name before,but I was never aware of who he was.The Milwaukee native has apparently been in the business for thirty-plus years now.He's been noted for being a friend and touring member of the Violent Femmes in the '90's.Snopek is mainly a keyboardist,but he's also known to be a versatile musician as well as performer.There's no way I can even classify his music on 'First Band...' other than I will say it gets better with each play.A couple of the most inspiring tracks are "Dr.Alles","Highway Ghosts" and the melodic "Let's Take A Trip".Line-up:Snopek-keyboards,flute&vocals,B.Wiemann III-guitar&vocals,Jim Gordon-bass and Mike Lucas-drums.A unique experience to be had here,that's for sure.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes me back!, November 10, 2006

By 

Wine snob (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Band On The Moon (Audio CD)

Great to listen to Snopek again! Brings back great memories of their shows at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Great lyrics, awesome music! Buy this CD - it is a classic!!!

4.0 out of 5 stars 'S No Peck like Snopek!, August 4, 2008

By 

James Scharnott "Unca Jim" (Noo Yawk, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Band On The Moon (Audio CD)

Who'd'a thunk one would dare use the phrases "art rock" and "Wisconsin" in the same sentence? But this Wisconsin art rock classic (originally released under the group name "Snopek") is grand, mixing classical styling, great dry wit, and a good bit of danceability. I have been a fan of this album since its initial release, and highly recommend it to anyone curious about how cool (spritually, not merely physically) Midwesterners can be!

One complaint regarding this release, though. Initial vinyl releases came with a bonus single. Its b-side, "Solalex," is here, but it sickly humorours, Zappa-esque a-side, "If You Love Me, Kill Yourself" is sadly absent. Let's restore that!