Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Moon Martin

  • Shots from a Cold Nightmare [Capitol, 1978] B
  • Street Fever [Capitol, 1980] B-
  • Mystery Ticket [Capitol, 1982] B-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Shots from a Cold Nightmare [Capitol, 1978]
Hook fiends will love these ten catchy little numbers, but me, I'm put off by Martin's pop drawl--"tender" or "excited," he's dispassionate in a way that doesn't suit his musical or lyrical directness. Or maybe it's just that eight songs about treacherous girls are four or five too many. B

Street Fever [Capitol, 1980]
Nick Lowe graduated from Brinsley Schwarz; Moon graduated from Southwind. As an authentic Texahoma native, he does up his hooks neorockabilly style, affecting a country-punk toughness that comes complete with the formal distance that's caught on in France and other distant places. He is to Nick Lowe as Southwind was to Brinsley Schwarz. There is no substance to reports that he'll join Jules Shear in a cult supergroup called Pop Pile. B-

Mystery Ticket [Capitol, 1982]
Martin seems intent on fulfilling his formal promise: the hooks keep getting bigger and the beat keeps getting edgier. In fact, for a thirtyish wimp who frequently threatens to murder his girlfriend, he's quite an attractive fellow. B-