Moon Martin: Escape from Domination

Noting the surface simplicity of this album’s music and lyrics as well as Martin’s pervasively vengeful stance, I initially wondered why the songs here sound so complex—and so joyous. As subsequent auditions have revealed, this artist hides a lot of subtleties between his lines; his go-for-the-throat attitude, moreover, turns out to result from a conscious and successful effort to transcend anger with what he aptly terms “schizoid, decadent Chuck Berry pop.” For quintessential, razor-sharp rock and roll, economical hooks, and affecting production, try originals like “I’ve Got a Reason,” “Dreamer,” and “Hot House Baby.”