By Andy McFerren
There is a general understanding that in the modern landscape of music, rock and roll is dead, or at the very least no longer in the driver’s seat. However, rock and roll is not only not dead, but we are fortunate enough to have one of the most interesting rock and roll bands right here in our own backyard. And they just released a new album on February 23rd.
The Plastic Cherries On The Moon is the sophomore album from the band The Plastic Cherries. It is both a direct response and sequel to their debut album, Sunshine. The album was made in collaboration with producer Denney Fuller (Introducing… The Mellons by The Mellons, Trip the Light Fantastic by Fonteyn), and the product is one of the most vibrant and captivating albums that I have heard in years.
This album wasn’t simply thrown together without thought like what seems to be most albums today, focusing on the individual songs and not the arc of an entire album. In contrast, it was contemplated and crafted with care. And you can feel that throughout. The album was a labor of love and is so much more than the catchy music it masquerades as. To be clear, it is catchy, groovy psychedelic rock that can be merely that if you want it to be. Or it can be so much more.
The Plastic Cherries On The Moon tells a story. A story too varied and too long for me to fully tell in this review. Here’s what I will say about it: it’s one of dreams, and it’s one of heading off into the unknown. It’s about leaving the comfort and safety of home in order to find yourself. The messages and lessons it has to tell aren’t found on the surface, just like we as individuals are more than just our outward appearance. But in order to get those messages, you have to sit with it, spend some quality time, and listen as the songs flip flop between moments of (sometimes quiet) reflection (“Tomorrow” and “A Rose”) and living life to the fullest in celebration of this complex thing that we call the human experience (“On The Moon” and “Glitter On The Floor”).
And there is no better starting point to this journey than “Lovers On The Run.” If you haven’t heard the first track already – which was released in 2022 – then I suggest you remedy that immediately. “Lovers On The Run” is brilliant and is the perfect launchpad for the space odyssey that is the rest of the album.
The album’s rich, sonic landscape could only be accurately described by the otherworldly visuals the music evokes. Whether it’s the dazzling piano of “Liftoff,” the ethereal and hypnotic vocals of lead singer Shelby Maddock on “Tomorrow” (or any other track for that matter), or the dueling guitar solos amidst a sea of horns on “Thank U,” there’s layers to it. Every time you listen, you pick up something you haven’t heard before.
The Plastic Cherries On The Moon is one of those albums that feels like it could perfectly sync up to some classic movie like the age-old claim that The Dark Side of the Moon does with The Wizard of Oz. However, as I listened to this album, I found myself thinking about the iconic imagery of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the bizarre French animated sci-fi film Fantastic Planet.
If I could offer one piece of advice when diving into the deep pool that is this album, it would be to find 35 minutes to listen to it uninterrupted. I promise you will gain such a deeper appreciation of the album if you listen to it at least once the way it was intended to be consumed: as a singular story.
If you want to experience The Plastic Cherries live (and you should), they will be playing Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City with Daytime Lover, Lord Vox, and Strange Familia on March 2, 2024. Be sure to follow the band on Instagram and listen to my favorite track “On The Moon” below.