I remember virtually disregarding this when it came out back in 1993.Too samey and derivative I thought.Pulled it out again a few years later.It still didn’t gel with me, but I wasn’t compelled to discard it or trade it in either.For the longest time I went under the mistaken premise that “Moth” was the name of the band, and that “Macabre” was the album title.At any rate, I’m glad I hung onto it, because I have a far better appreciation for Moth Macabre these days, albeit posthumously by nearly two decades.A coed four-piece that called San Francisco home base, M/M had an intense penchant for dynamics, entrenched waist deep in the Pixies quiet/loud/quiet algorithm. The screaming opener “All Great Architects Are Dead” is a sheer knock out, and although the remainder of Moth Macabre isn’t quite as startling, it is rewarding.I’m hearing a little Smashing Pumpkins and Drop Nineteens on here too.To add another wrinkle to the equation, frontman Daniel Presley is often a dead ringer for the Straitjacket Fits Shayne Carter.You can download a live M/M show (featuring a nifty Velvet Underground remake) on this page curated by guitarist Tom Risse.The video for “All Great Architects…” is below.
01. All Great Architects Are Dead 02. Amazing 03. Elizabeth 04. Pale 05. Blow 06. Two Days 07. Malibu 08. Glass Eye 09. Screwdriver Girl 10. Lemuria 11. AEIOU
