Adam Moe's debut solo album, Leaving Can't Be Wrong, celebrates the hard work that changes demand, each track a testament to the work he has done to shift his entire career.
"Some Days" opens the album by introducing Moe's ever changing preferences, as fluid as the guitar and lap-steel riffs throughout the album. The bouncing rhythm on this track mimics the back-and-forth nature of the lyrics, the most notable pair reflecting the tension behind deciding to leave, a theme throughout the album: "Some days I'd like to be elsewhere, / Some days I like it right here."
The third track, "Blue Skies and Highways" uses the fast-paced energy of bluegrass to describe a trucker finishing his rounds, the tempo conveying the excitement of coming home at last. In his recognizable smooth twang, Moe sings "Been following that long white line every day / And now I'm heading home," the joy palpable in each word.
The title track, "Leaving Can't Be Wrong," explores the conflicting feelings of leaving a place that has nothing left to offer. The lyrics list the reasons that staying doesn't make sense, but the song lingers. The slower pace and plodding rhythm feel like Moe is dragging his feet leaving, still in the process of convincing himself that "leaving can't be wrong."
Another standout number, "Fool on the Stool Next to You," departs from the sonic norm of the album in a style reminiscent of Roger Miller, one of Moe's chief musical inspirations. The honky-tonk piano that dominates the track, recorded by a friend of his in Nashville, transforms the song into a story that has the crowd leaning in to hear more about the "fool on the stool next to you."
Since Covid derailed his 20+ year career as a fiddler and eight-year stint in folky-tonk duo Pushing Chain, Moe finally had the opportunity and availability to pursue his solo career. Based out of Duluth, MN, Moe expertly distills classic country and Americana flavors into the 10 tracks off Leaving Can't Be Wrong.
A debut album is a major milestone for any musician, and Adam Moe's Leaving Can't Be Wrong is a standout example of what a quality debut should be: honest, approachable, and above all, enjoyable.
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