What an album, reminds me a lot of Steely Danas well as the great jam bands like Grateful Dead and Widespread Panic etc. So glad i found this band recently.
While the best introduction to moe. remains, in my view, Warts and All Vol 2 (Mexico and Happy Hour Hero are collectively the best extended live jam ever recorded IMHO, and moe. is above all a great live band), The Conch wins a tight race as the second best studio album by this amazing group. Tin Cans and Car Tires barely holds its first place position. I respectfully disagree with those who claim The Conch does not match Wormwood. Both releases have their own virtues, but I think The Conch edges out Wormwood as the better collective work. Mind you, this latest is a bit more laid back overall (hence the title), but the "Five Guys" have put together some of their best songs yet. Blue Jeans Pizza, The Conch/Tailspin, Wind It Up, Where Does The Time Go, and The Road are the highlights, but the ballads and other instrumentals also contribute to a delightful "smorgasbord" of what we fans love most about five guys named moe. Blue Jeans Pizza and Wind It Up are simply two of their best songs ever. These guys have served it up big time, and fans with the munchies have never had it so good!!
Outstanding quasi-studio effort! Yeah, I read the backhanded compliments that implied this disc is too polished. Rubbish! I love Moe's live stuff, but it's nice to have a high-quality studio recording every now and then to see what the boys can truly envision... and this one shines. The song selections and style reflect a maturity that all long-time fans can appreciate.
I have to admit that it took some time for "the Conch" to work its way under my skin. I guess it's hard to appreciate "The Conch" without considering that it doesn't match its predecessor. Just as Umphrey's McGee's "Safety in Numbers" failed to live up to the greatness of "Anchor Drops," moe. failed to launch two consecutive grand slams. "Wormwood" was one of the all-time greatest jamband discs and the successor may have determined if the group would become the next Phish. The verdict is in: moe is as great a band as ever but the golden throne is left unoccupied. Okay, enough about what "The Conch" isn't; a review should focus on a CD's qualities. "The Conch" is a great disc, on a similar level of quality with the rest of moe.'s discography. 'Tailspin' blazes with moe's signature sound and song writing chemistry. Other highlights include 'Wind It Up,' 'She,' and 'The Road.' Steely Dan might sue the band over the harmonies employed in 'Blue Jeans Pizza.' 'Lost Along The Way' had already found a place in our hearts with the band's "Live from the Fillmore" DVD. 'Where Does The Time Go' demonstrates the band's song writing abilities. "The Conch" has a balance of rockers, short instrumentals and slow ballads. While those who found the band with "Wormwood" may be a bit disappointed, "The Conch" outshines "Sticks and Stones," and stands as a deeply satisfying album.