(July 2017 "FROM THE ARCHIVE") - "Planet Moon"

At the end of 2011, the band recorded all the basic tracks for 10 new songs. We had over 70 minutes of music and weren’t entirely sure what we were going to do with it all. One of our ideas was to release it altogether as a double album; another was to trim it down to an hour-long record, similar in running time to our previous album Rabbit. Then the idea was posed to divide the songs into two separate albums and release them within (roughly) a year of each other. We found this idea to be most intriguing, so we began the process of arranging the material into two unique, yet connected, records.

The intent was to create two “sibling records”. We started by grouping the songs based on stylistic compatibility and designed both album covers to form a single image when placed one of top of the other. (The second album cover would’ve been an underwater scene. In fact, if you look at the bottom of the cover for Quickly Quickly Quickly, you can see where the top of the second cover would’ve begun). We even considered titling them Brother Sun and Sister Moon; but what emerged were two very different sounding records. One (which would end up becoming Quickly Quickly Quickly) was a decidedly progressive rock record in a traditional sense with a more complex, consonant, and pastoral sound. The second was a slightly shorter record with more experimental and dissonant music which bordered, at times, on a punk rock aesthetic.  

Consequently, our plan did not come to fruition. Ultimately we decided that the material for the first record was considerably stronger than the second, with two exceptions: “Wasp in a Wig” (which ended up being the only song from this period to appear on the fourth record Grappling; although re-recorded and with new elements), and “Planet Moon”. The remaining four songs were shelved and relegated to The Archive, where they may someday see the light of day (perhaps in rejuvenated form on a future record, or perhaps right here for our Patrons!)

“Planet Moon” tells the story of five bored young royals who set out on a boat in search of meaning, and encounter tragedy along the way. The imagery was taken from a drawing made by Dan (Image file provided in this post).  Album cover artist Kendra Desimone took this image and painted an 8’ by 5’ backdrop which we took on tour and displayed behind the band's backline. Tea Club fans with a clever eye will notice that the boat and the woman with the Mad Hat both made it into the QQQ album art. 

“Planet Moon” was a staple in the live repertoire just before and after the release of QQQ and became something of a fan favorite; but this studio version has never been released.

Disclaimer: Although the quality of the recording is very high, this is the only mix we made for this song and it was intended mainly for reviewing purposes. It likely would’ve been different had it been included on the record. 

Enjoy!

-Pat M

Good afternoon to you all on this boat
But I'm afraid to say that we're all alone

Not even close to what we were hoping for
Not even close to what we were

Good afternoon to you all on this boat
But I'm afraid to say that we're all alone
But I'm afraid to say that we're all alone

Oh no, we're still all alone on a boat on the sea
Oh well, at least it's a change from the way it used to be
Oh no, those things that we used to believe long ago

Oh no, those things that we used to believe long ago
Oh no, those things that we used to believe
That we used to believe
That we used to believe

I did a drawing did a drawing did a drawing, and I
I think it's good, I think it's good, and I
I wanna show you wanna show you wanna show you, but you're
Too far from here, too far from here

I started working started working started working on
Writing a book, writing a book, and I
I wanna show you wanna show you wanna show you
But you're too far from here, too far from here
All alone on the sea
All alone on the sea

Oh no, those things that I used to believe long ago

I'd like to hear from you hear from you hear from you
I've got a lot of time, I've got a lot of time
So feel free, feel free to drop in any
Time at all, time at all, time at all

This recording of “Planet Moon” was performed by:

Dan McGowan - Lead Vocals, Guitar

Patrick McGowan - Guitar, Vocal Harmonies

Charles Batdorf - Bass

R. McGeddon - Keyboards

Joe Rizzolo - Drums