MOXY — Moxy (review)

Album · 1975 · Hard Rock

4/5 · 2015-06-03
voila_la_scorie

Have you ever heard of the Canadian invasion? Don't worry if you haven't. It wasn't exactly that big. But I have been discovering several really good hard rock (sometimes borderline metal, sometimes just borderline hard rock) Canadian bands who released albums during the 1970's, and it seems a lot of bands found a following in Texas, thanks to a radio DJ named Joe Anthony of San Antonio radio station KISS-FM. He promoted bands like Triumph, April Wine, and Moxy. And of course around that time Bachman-Turner Overdrive were making it big. So I guess there was a kind of small invasion from the Great White North, and I think I even read that it is recognized by a couple of British rock historians. So, yeah, pretty cool, eh?

Moxy were possibly one of the hardest rocking of the bands I know. A lot of bands spread themselves around, doing hard rockers, upbeat acoustic numbers, pop songs, and power ballads. Not Moxy. At least not on their debut. Though the first track has some softer, airy moments (like some late seventies Uriah Heep perhaps with a bit of piano) and the second track has some pleasant folksy acoustic guitar, the rest of the album is straightforward hard rock packed with great hard rock riffs and of course, the dual guitar sound.

There's a funny story about how they got the sound. Originally a four piece, the band went to Van Nuys, California to record their album; however, guitarist Earl Johnson pissed off the producer and got himself kicked out of the studio. Working next door was Tommy Bolin. Bolin was apparently very impressed with the band's approach to back-to-the-bone hard rock and when he was asked to record guitar solos for the album, he accepted. When the band heard the recorded results with two guitars, they decided to get a second guitarist in the band and so they hired Buddy Caine. Caine did not appear on the album but his photo is on the sleeve because by the time the band started touring the album, he was a true blue member.

Some impressive points on this album are the commitment to playing hard rock with almost no keyboards, no power ballads, and no acoustic or pop numbers. Even the first two tracks, which is where there are the only signs of any deviation from hard rock, have some great riffs and heavy playing. Many of the songs include a middle section with a different riff, adding variety and interest. Buzz Sherman's voice and the overall sound of the band make Moxy a close equivalent to early Mötley Crüe but without the bad boy image. The guitar sound is fuller, too, and something like heavier BTO.

If there are any strikes against the album, I can only say that Bolin's solos slip past me each time. I find the songs and riffs are so enjoyable that I miss the solos. In that way, he impressed me more with his solo work or work with Deep Purple and also Zephyr. The other thing is that as this album is nearly all hard rock from front to back, there is little variety in sound and style. It reminds me of AC/CD's "Powerage" which has few stand out tracks but sounds good played straight through. If I were to pick one song as my favourite, it would be "Sail On, Sail Away" exactly because of the contrast between acoustic folk guitar and hard rock riffs.

This is a great seventies hard rock album with awesome stuff packed in everywhere. Minus one star for being too much of a very good thing without having any one song or two that really knock me out.