Steve Moss Releases First LP in 20 Years, with a Retro Rock N’ Roll Sound

Singer-songwriter Steve Moss is back with his sophomore album, Another Go, marking his first release in over 20 years since his debut LP, Glorified Demos. Moss proudly wrote and performed every sound on the album, a rarity in today’s music industry. Another Go is a rock ‘n’ roll record with a vintage touch; raw, organic, and blissful at times. It’s packed with captivating hooks and exciting instrumentation. Rock the Pigeon is thrilled to break it down, track by track.

The record kicks off with “No Fear”, a powerful opener driven by heavy electric guitars and distorted amps. From the very first note, Steve Moss delivers a catchy vocal melody. The song explores themes of growing up and shifting perspectives, how, as we age and get knocked around by life, fear creeps in where youthful boldness once ruled. The vocals are recorded with a vintage flair, giving the track a rich, organic feel.

“Twice As Hard As Yesterday” channels the spirit of early Beatles records, built around a driving bass line, steady drums, and a classic clap track. The vocal melodies are undeniably catchy, and moments of heavenly harmonies elevate the song further. Surf rock-inspired guitar solos add another layer of hook-driven charm, but one of the most striking moments comes with a raw, rebellious vocal scream, sealing its status as a true rock ‘n’ roll standout.

The record moves on to “One Less Thing (I Have To Worry About).” This song starts off with a catchy guitar lead guitar riff. It’s played in a tender fashion that pulls on the listener’s heartstrings. Emotional vocals come in over a chord progression that is slightly psychedelic and diminished sounding. The song eventually picks up as drums come in after the one-minute mark. The song remains a ballad, a great third track on the record.

The energy picks up again on “Lost Along The Way.” This song starts with explosive guitars and drums. The snare drum snaps over and over, bringing even more energy to the track. Steve Moss sings a vocal melody that is irresistible. It calls to be sung along with. While the production of the song still sounds like retro rock n’ roll, the melody of the song leans more towards grunge and indie rock of the early 2000s. Steve Moss sings with confidence: “It’s turning urgent, now I’ve gotta gain some ground. I know firsthand; I know how time can grind you down.” 

“Overgrown” is a beautifully stripped-down track that leans into simplicity, allowing its raw emotion to take center stage. A jangly acoustic guitar fills the space with a warm, rhythmic presence, creating an intimate atmosphere. As the song progresses, heavenly harmonies gently emerge, adding depth and richness to Steve Moss’s lead vocal performance. The delicate layering of voices enhances the song’s heartfelt nature, making it one of the most tender moments on the album. This track stands out as another ballad, offering a much-needed moment of reflection and vulnerability amidst the record’s more energetic, rock-driven moments. Moss’s delivery is filled with sincerity, evoking a sense of nostalgia and longing. It’s a song that invites the listener to slow down, take a breath, and truly absorb its sensitive spirit.

The acoustic guitars take center stage once again on “My Darling”, but this time, they carry an even warmer, more intimate tone. The recording captures a rich, full-bodied sound, making the strumming feel as if it’s being played right in the room with the listener. There’s a certain closeness to the way the guitars are layered, adding to the song’s tender, heartfelt nature. At its core, “My Darling” is a love ballad, an earnest and reassuring declaration of commitment. The lyrics express devotion and unwavering support, as Steve Moss delivers a message of loyalty to his beloved. “You’re always on my mind,” he sings, a simple yet profoundly moving sentiment that captures the essence of enduring love.

Gun Shy” shows the other side of the coin. This song is about the start of a new relationship and how the excitement could bring up fear and insecurities. This song is also driven with acoustic guitar, layered with a bouncy bass performance. The song feels much like a ballad until the explosive chorus. This is, without a doubt, the catchiest chorus on the record. It’s one that listeners will find themselves singing again later. Personally, this is my favorite song on the record.

My favorite song to write was “Gun Shy”: all of my intentions came together really well on that one. I stumbles upon a chord sequence for the chorus, and it instantly pulled a melody out of me. I spent a couple weeks thinking about what lyrics would suit it, and what 2-syllable thing would be the key. “Sunshine” fit, but wasn’t right. Somewhere, “gun shy” bubbled up, and as soon as I had that, I knew what it all meant – everything fell into place really fast. It wasn’t forced, and is pretty honest. – Steve Moss

Silver Day” is about when that love is no more. This song is another acoustic guitar driven ballad, but this one has a more somber feel to it than the rest of the acoustic-driven songs. This song carries the spirit of heartbreak and love lost. The song has a free-spirited feel to it, making it feel even more organic than other songs on the record. It feels much like a jam track, with lots of depth.

Bass and drums carry the energy to a higher place on “Parallel.” This is one of the most intriguing pieces, musically. The song has an out-of-the-box chord progression, that dips and wanes through major and minor. The chorus section focuses much on the rhythm of the lead vocals, creating another memorable hook line. My favorite element on this track is the bass because of the tone and riff.

The last track on the record is “Exhausted.” Kicking off with a fierce acoustic guitar strum and a shaking tambourine, this song ends the record with energy despite the topic of the song. This song has the most explosive full band moment on the record. It feels like it’s evolving from retro rock n’ roll to a modern rock. Perhaps giving listeners a clue about the sound of the next album? Steve Moss says that this was the most challenging song to record.

At that time, I was living in a small apartment where I didn’t dare play drums because the walls were thin and there were a lot of people in the building. So the drums were played on a keyboard (live in 2 passes, rather than sequenced), which is an approach I’d not done before. Also, I found that I could only play the rhythm guitar part correctly while I was also singing the song, so that changed how I recorded that part (tricky with only one microphone). – Steve Moss

Listen to Another Go on Spotify now:

Written by Ryan Cassata 

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