There is a Moth in Your Chest

Mason Proper | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 7, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mang Chung Records
• ASIN: B000E3LFXE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,481 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Chance Encounter

2. Miss Marylou Carreau

3. 100yrs.

4. Intimidation

5. The World is Smaller Than You Think

6. Mr. Charm

7. I Spy

8. Lights Off

9. Life's Cornucopia

10. Chemical Dress Eliza

11. My My (Bad Fruit)

12. Carousel! Carousel!

13. Blue Lips Eternal Inquiry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A++++++++++++++++ VERY FAST PAYMENT, GREAT EBAYER!!!!!!!!, March 19, 2007

By 

S. Finn "scare quotes" (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There Is a Moth in Your Chest (Audio CD)

Mason Proper's proprietary blend of sardonic indifference and exuberance affects me in an alarming, fundamental way. They make me crane my neck as if to stretch my ears away from my shoulders; they make me twist my head away from my body because in their crisp distortion-edged post-punk gems, everything sounds new. My physical response is less a dance than an irrepressible full-body twitch with a tickling sensation in my nose that makes for facial contortions very like a smile.

"Chance encounters" opens the album with a plaintive pop caress followed by the achingly catchy syncopated saunter of "Miss Marylou Carreau." The energy and playful ah-ing of "My My (Bad Fruit)" keep the rotting fruit metaphor shakily afloat which gives way to the stand-out "100 Yrs," a song-writing and mixing accomplishment of the first order. They skirt the pitfalls of formula-punk fatigue and and forgettable melodic lo-fi with the urgency of the sounds that emanate from their mouths and smart experimental embroidery. More accessible than The Books, as beautiful as Modest Mouse at their best but far more consistent, smarter than Pulp and Clap Your Hands, the more relevant comparions are probably David Lynch and Jan Svankemajer, perhaps David Foster Wallace or Dave McKean. I should tell you more about the infectious middle of the album and the shocking beauty of the last three tracks (particularly "Carousel! Carousel!"), but we'd probably just drown in adjectives and really, better you hear it for yourself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE STARS!, March 9, 2006

By 

Todd Hauser (Oceanside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There is a Moth in Your Chest (Audio CD)

This band totally blows me away. When I first heard the record, I was blown away how all the songs sounded so different, yet still worked together. "Mr. Charm" is this hyper upbeat track that reminds me of Futureheads or the Jam. "Life's Cornucopia" is this very introspective haunting track that sounds like no other band I've heard. There's not a bad track on this record. It goes from hazy, clowdy day music to super-blue-sky pop. You could put each track on a different mixtape. Later, I got online and learned that they were all 20 and recorded all the tracks themselves. I have spent years recording my own music and can't get the clarity and effect these guys have. I've heard they are awesome live, unfortunately I live in California and they haven't made their way out here yet. Heavily recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantabulous!, March 29, 2007

By 

Matthew Steven Ford "TheMattford" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There Is a Moth in Your Chest (Audio CD)

One day I was browsing around on Pandora, when I came across these guys playing "A Chance Encounter." I loved it so much, I acquired my copy of Moth immediately, and haven't regretted it one bit. From start to finish, Mason Proper seems to have mastered the art of versatility. Each song can easily stand on it's own, creating it's own feeling that is completely unique from the next. Amazing vocals, singing intelligent lyrics. Even the backup harmonies are awesome, and I'm a sucker for those. Starting from the essentially epic pop songs like "A Chance Encounter," "My My (Bad Fruit)," and "100 Years," to the slightly toned down, and even a bit tragic sounds of "Miss Marylou Carreau," "The World Is Smaller Than You Think," "I Spy," and "Carousel! Carousel!," add some crazy rock-out pieces such as "Lights Out," and "Mr. Charm," and then toss in a few space-out tracks like "Life's Cornucopia" and "Blue Lips Eternal Inquiry." Boil it up, and you hold this perfect gem of an album in your hands. It's a must have for anyone who loves indie music, or cares about the future of music in general.

I'm not one to make comparisons, I really don't like to. However, even if I was to try, I don't think I can really list off any number of bands that can appropriately capture the essence of this band and give it the justice it deserves. They have a sound that is all their own, and I think it will stay that way. Take it from me, out of the innumerable bands I've come across in the past year, these guys are by far the best I've found since Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Better even.

Definitely pick this album up.