New Cornucopia

Album Review

It's not hard to feel enthusiastic about New Cornucopia!, And the Moneynotes' debut album. The band obviously had such a good time recording it that the music's sense of fun is contagious. But that's not to suggest that this is a perky little pop album, since it isn't. In fact, only a couple of songs are even remotely pop, and there are a good number of downtempo tracks; regardless, the set sports a slew of infectious melodies and clap-along choruses. So what's going on here? At their core, And the Moneynotes are an R&B band, but one that refuses to stick to that genre, slipping and sliding gleefully into others at every given opportunity. Take "The Rascal of Lisbon," for example, a torch song with a decided country tinge, at least until guitarist Manny Quinn rides in with his melancholy surf solo. "Rascal's Reprise" revisits the melody of "Lisbon" in sumptuous jazz style, but blends in British Invasion R&B. The album is filled with these types of twists, from the hoedown "Hornaplenty" that's bedded in R&B to "A Pirate's Confession III" that stirs together swing, R&B, and ragtime. The infectious, knees-up "My Kid Smokin" is the nearest the band gets to R&B served neat, but even that gets a slice of country, while the equally catchy "Bolinda" interweaves the Beatles and doo wop. It's the upbeat numbers with their hook-lined choruses and strong melodies that immediately garner attention — even country haters will adore "The Gimp," while jazz detractors will be bowled over by "Wait I Get Ya" — but the band's downtempo numbers are just as striking, as are the Moneynotes' quirky themes and at times almost surreal lyrics. It's R&B as you've never imagined, and as it never was intended to be, but so right nonetheless.