I was surprise to hear Motel Bambi following Star Spangled Man, as the have strikingly lyrical methods (half sung/spoke) It actually sounds a tad repetitive and may have come across as a better song if differently placed. Despite the reverb laden yumminess, the lyrics leave much to be desired.. “I like flowers, I like sex”.. yeah Dean, who doesn’t.
Still at Home is the better of the two “Sean” songs that is also very countryesque and beautiful. This is very UnLuna, if you apply the standard Luna Litmus Test ™. Sean has a very pretty voice, it will be interesting to hear more of him should his side project (potential new project?, note also with Luna’s Lee Wall) the Weeds of Eden take off.
Buffalo Boots reminds me of a wankier Drunken Whistler. Dean employs more speak/singing and the lyrics are as wanky as the playing they support. Too technically played to be a “Fuzzy Wuzzy”, but similarly sexual in vein. Very voyeuristic; “Girl in the window that I really want to snuggle, and at the supermarket I have to bite my knuckle… mother of a girl, spill in my spill.” My first thought was, could this song be influenced by those horrible Ugg boots people have taken to wearing with mini-skirts (or at least they did earlier this summer), and that made me sad.
The album closes with Rainbow Babe, which has a very sleepy post-sex vibe…This song sounds like the aural equivalent of lazy vacation sex in a South American motel after a day lounging in the sun. I have to say that this is Luna at their worst lyrically, for example, “Midnight fell at 12:00” or.”2 and 2 makes 22” Somehow though; the lyrics seem to match the half asleep mutterings the song implies and as a whole the song survives.
Rendezvous is a somewhat efficient but generous 40 minute journey from the couch to undress to sex to cozy almost sleep, allowing for two peaks and a, slow descent to a relaxed cuddle that drifts towards slumber… could this be love?
Whatever happens next, I look forward to seeing the output of each soon-to-be former Luna member. Let's hope the parts can be as magical as they were when whole.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
excellent, heartfelt review from a real fan - thanks Jen and glad to have you back! Re Luna: it's sad but all goes on.
2 - Jen
Thanks Eric, good to be back in the fold, though sad my return post had to be such a personal heartbreaker...
3 - Eric Olsen
there is always the joy of reunion!
4 - jay
been wondering when rendezvous was gonna be released... new luna cd days are like xmas for me. didn't know about the breakup plans until reading this, and i really am ill now. awful news.
nonetheless, they better schedule a show in new orleans during the send-off tour. and i can't wait for 10/26.
cheers.
5 - LIRC
They are trying to get all the touring in during 6mths, which seems hard to do, including the requiste abroad dates... Though, they hit some seemingly random locals in FLA for Romantica, Nawlins does not seem unlikely. Even though I've had Rendezvous for a while, I will be lining up at midnight to pick up my copies (ya know, one sealed for collection sake)