First Boy on the Moon - 2021 - First Boy on the Moon

(36:21; Manic Records)

Track list:
1. Drown It Out 4:34
2. Straight Up With You 3:35
3. The Truth 4:39
4. First Boy on the Moon 3:20
5. All Right Already 3:08
6. Grim Reaper 5:05
7. If This Isn't Love 3:35
8. What Alice Was Talking About 4:31
9. Pretty Vicious 3:54

Line-up:
David - vocals, guitars
Julius - guitars
Jens - bass
Johannes - drums
with:
Andy Horvath - drums


Swedish band THE FIRST BOY ON THE MOON was formed in 2019 by band leader David Pedroza, a US citizen currently situated in Sweden. From the start the band has been an active creative unit, releasing a total of ten singles in 2019 and 2020. Nine of those songs have been collected to make up the contents of the band's debut album, "First Boy on the Moon", which was released in the fall of 2021.  

The band are self-described as being inside the parameters of indie and alternative rock, and to my mind that is a fair description of the contents here. These are fairly conventional songs in structure, but the arrangements and sounds used takes them ever so slightly out of a more generic pop or rock context. If the band falls down on the indie side or the alternative side depends very much on what the individual listener associates with those descriptions I gather.

The songs range from light toned and uplifting creations with more of a careful instrument presence to slightly darker toned and driving songs with a bit of a post-punk orientation to them, with a few token one-offs that strikes me as being ever so slightly more art rock and 60's garage rock flavored respectively. An ongoing feature in just about all of the songs are psychedelic details, primarily provided by the guitars. Most often in more of a subtle manner, but occasionally also more direct and borderline dominant. 'Grim Reaper' being a good example of the latter.

The light toned, clear and relaxed lead vocals does emphasize a more uplifting spirit that is a tendency for this album as a whole, and while perhaps not bursting with joyful life this is more of a good mood album than the opposite, with darker moods and undercurrents restricted mainly to glimpses and moments. This is an easygoing album experience too, and not an album that demands more from it's listeners than merely a bit of attention.

Those who tend to enjoy music described within an indie rock and alternative rock context should feel right at home with this album I suspect, and those among that audience that know and appreciate some post-punk vibes and subtle psychedelic details will probably get the most pleasure out of giving this album a spin. A good album with several strong points to it, especially for the audience outlined above.

Olav M. Björnsen, November 2021

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/firstboysweden