CD Reviews

Black Moth Super Rainbow | Cobra Juicy

Rad Cult Records (2012)

By RYAN FOLEY | October 9, 2012

3.0 Stars

Technology makes secrecy well-nigh impossible, so Black Moth Super Rainbow settle for employing it as a narrative device. Complete with adopted pseudonyms, latex masks, and a penchant for myth-making, the Pittsburgh band have effectively created avatars of themselves. Fifth album Cobra Juicy continues a motif established on 2009's Eating Us: the shroud of mystery is slowly lifting. BMSR's specific and sharpened psychedelic/electronic sound is slinking away from the margins and edging closer to the center. Frontman Tobacco is leaning less on his Vocoder; his oftentimes monochromatic vocals are injected with humanity. He practically sneers on "Hairspray Heart"; on "Dreamsicle Bomb" he's playful and breathy. There's also additional guitar — or, rather, additional synthesizers that sound like guitar — funkier bass, less spaced-out strangeness. On "Spraypaint," you wonder if, at their hardened core, BMSR are really just a straight-up, buttoned-down pop act. In sacrificing weirdness for conformity, Cobra Juicy shows growth, but somewhat mugs the band of what made them so singular.

BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW :: Paradise Rock Club, 967 Comm Ave, Boston :: December 3 @ 7 pm :: 18+ :: $15 :: 617.562.8800 or thedise.com

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