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Slade  07/25/2009          
Ian Moore
Artist Review
Regardless of what you think about the albums being made by Moore today, I still miss the Capricorn Years. When he sang "All I want is to keep you satisfied", he wasn't referring to his fans of that time period. I am not satisfied but I do wish him all the best. Thanks for the memories...I guess.
'The Voice' by Doc Rock  05/30/2006          
Ian Moore
Artist Review
'Luminaria'...intimate reflections on having lived and lost ... the open hearted acceptance of loss and transformation as part of a deeper realm of experience on the level of soul.With 'Luminaria' as his medium, Ian Moore, the artist/musician/composer, paints a vivid and moving mosaic, carrying us from the insular plaintive wail of 'What I've Done',through the pleading and longing musings of 'Kangaroo Lake', and ultimately to the uplifting and psychedelic tinged cacophany of hope and renewal jarring us back to our 'senses' with 'New Day'(no filler in sight). This is highly literate and introspective music, a kind of 'white man's blues' with integrity, designed to carry those who dare make 'the journey out and in' to a deeper level of understanding of themselves and of their connection to the ebb and flow of the greater web of life. This is the work of a man becoming comfortable in his own skin while reaching for his full stride as a compassionate and ultimately vulnerable artist; one who has lived,loved and lost in a rich glow, were the 'ego' has begun it's long slow fade into the shadows.There is a powerful synergy at work here. Each song contained in this opus is a reflection of the greater cosmic message in microcosm, as expressed in the human dynamic, any one of which, when understood completely, relects back a clear perception of the whole. Does that mean that by experiencing and understanding 'Luminaria' on a deep level we can hope to gain 'enlightenment'? Well, I'm afraid not. But it can certainly serve as an uplifting step along the path in its own subtle way, an inspiration to trust the process and to tread a bit more lightly when faced with the ups and downs and the ins and outs and the good and bad of life; a gentle reminder that it all comes back to us in the end. I would suggest multiple listenings of 'Luminaria', regardless of first impression, especially for the emotionally numb.If it does'nt resonate at first, don't be frustrated; with time and a little patience I'm certain you will be richly rewarded, even if it takes years to sink in! This music is a new genre for most, rooted more in emotional awareness than in technical analysis, trendiness or purely physical texturing; actually echoing an ancient perennial philosophy which beckons us to look within first. Oddly enough while writing this review, two songs from the distant past came back to mind. From Stevie Wonder comes the words, 'I was made to love her, from a world above us'; and then from the great Jerry Butler comes, 'so take it easy on yourself, cause breakin' up is so very hard to do'. Wow, I think that's a great part of what Ian Moore meant to convey with 'Luminaria'.... We all come here to travel the earth for a short time during which we are called upon to love with all our heart, mind and soul which we must express through our physical togetherness and closeness with other individuals in order to find life's fulfillment. But when these precious gifts from 'above' end or begin to fall apart(breakup,divoce,lawsuit, betrayal,war,death), which they all must in this world, be gentle with ourselves and others, lest we become another sad statistic. I suspect that unlike many of his contemporaries, Ian Moore is determined not to tread the tragic path of over self-indulgence in personal pathos. There is always a 'New Day'.
josh mcfarland  12/21/2005          
Live Via Sattelite
the best one man show on the planet!
[email protected]  10/30/2004          
Luminaria
Album Review
Those who already know Moore may only know him from his previous incarnation as a guitar-slinging Texan. Those who haven't heard his earlier work will have a hard time connecting his earlier blues-rock background to his current folk-rock inflected alt.country sound. His latest betrays few hints of his past, filling out this disc (his sixth) with superb pop melodies and adventurous arrangements that layer harmony and echo on meters that effortlessly flow from pop 4/4 to dreamy waltz-time interludes. Touch-points like Jeff Buckley's introspective folk and Wilco's pop constructs are fleshed out by loping tempos, as well as pedal steel that is more atmosphere than twang. The 7+ minute "Caroline" is a lush Badfinger-like construct that alternates between concise melodic pop and trippy psychedelia. Having recorded this album over many months with a revolving set of musicians in several cities and along the road, the songs explore a wide range of styles, including the shuffling country soul of "April," the jazzy blues of "Abilene," and the otherworldly Theramin-inspired "Ordinary People." It's a heady collection of sophisticated sounds that mixes primary elements with shadings of trip-hop. When Moore cranks up the rock 'n' roll electricity, as he does for "New Day," it's more a wall-of-buzz (with Penny Lane-ish trumpets) than Texas blues. Even the rootsy dobro rant "Bastard" sounds as though it were processed through a bit of Tom Waits' alley-way sensibility. Moore's lyrics are similarly sophisticated, mixing allegory with word play for poetic effect, but without destroying the narratives or characters. His sketch of Antarctic explorer Sir Robert Scott's dramatically portrays the mariner's failed attempt to reach the South Pole before anyone else (he was beaten by Norwegian Roald Amundsen), and his death on the return journey. Perhaps the album's greatest achievement is how effortlessly it combines its breadth of style and depth of experimentation. Rather than sounding constructed, it sounds like an organic whole that tumbled out of Moore's imagination. There's a great deal of craft in the unusual, detailed arrangements, but like the lyrics, singing and playing, it's in service of fashioning a superbly coherent result from often disparate ingredients. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.
Jay Pop  08/23/2004          
Ian Moore
Artist Review
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the next great singer/songwriter, Ian Moore. Combine Stevie Wonder with Jackson Browne, add eclectic music with soulful folk rootsy rock, mix that together and you get Ian's latest album Luminaria. A must purchase for anyone who can hear and feel. As an independent performer, you can catch him all over the U.S. in an incredible live, intimate setting. Luminaria is another wonderful chapter in the revolving door of Ian's music. We can only hope that he keeps following his heart.
Gary Overstreet  03/31/2004          
Modern Day Folklore
After hearing "How Does It Feel" from Ian's debut CD, and "Muddy Jesus" from this CD...I rushed out to buy "Modernday Folklore". It actually took me a while to warm up to this one, but once I did I could not stop listening...and have been a diehard Ian Moore fan ever since. But as good as his recorded music is, it just cannot compare to what an amazing live performer he is. After seeing over 50 shows now (both full band and acoustic), I can definitely say that Ian Moore is truly one of the most unique and talented singers/musicians working today.
Eric Dean  07/31/2001          
Ian Moore
Artist Review
Hello everyone. I saw Ian Moore last night at the San Marcos River Pub and Grill along with over 600 other folks. I believe that he broke the attendance record at the outdoor event. It was an amazing show. Ian did two long solo acoustic sets and hung around to sign autographs and take photos with his fans before taking a swim in the river. Check out "Green Grass" for rootsy eclectic stuff, "...and All the Colors" for profound siger sogwriter rock stuff and his latest "Via Satellite" for one of the best live performances captured on CD. Peace...E.D.
Warren  05/15/2001          
Ian Moore
Artist Review
I know that the majority of people on this site listen to roots type artists. Well Ian exemplifies roots rock, soul with a little blues and world flavor. He is an amazing songwriter and singer...oh and he's o.k. on the guitar too. All of you folks that are getting into to Cross Canadian and like your stuff a little rockin' check out Ian. He'll be in Oklahoma City 6/2 @ the Blue Door & Norman 6/1 @ the Red Dirt Cafe for two solo acoustic shows. Wear a diaper...peace.


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