Ever since his departure from Jellyfish at the peak of the band’s brief early-’90s run, Jason Falkner has relished his role as a self-made power-pop iconoclast. R. Stevie Moore’s championing of the DIY recording aesthetic stretches all the way back to the late ’60s, gaining underground momentum during the following decade’s punk explosion. Unlike Falkner, Moore has never been much for restraint, recording more than 400 albums. As one might surmise, new collaboration Make It Be casts Falkner as the editor/ringmaster of Moore’s wonky sonic circus—and the results should connect with fans of the former’s innate craftsmanship and the latter’s rampant eclecticism. Falkner and Moore will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.
Moore: Music has to be forward thinking, good and intentionally smart. Clever writing is one thing, quality arranging is another. Tricky, snarky chord changes and the delightful combinations of them. Not enough modern pop music boldly goes there, always playing it safe. Therefore, remaining stagnant, mediocre and average, and not my favourite by a long shot.
