moniker - moniker

Moniker

Moniker
self-released; 2013

3.3 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Moniker is Jackson Russo who recently released an EP also called Moniker.  Moniker touts original music but is so influenced by Thom Yorke and Radiohead that it seems like a cover album. It’s an interesting album because he takes time and effort to write songs that are reminiscent of the original artist but aren't exact replicates. 

The album starts off with “Landing On Odd Numbers,” which is basically two Radiohead songs: “Everything in Its Right Place” and “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box.” Russo uses the line  “After years of neglection I've finally hit perfection / You say that you are different / But you are artificial” whereas the opening line to the Radiohead song is “After years of waiting nothing came, As your life flashed before your eyes.” I might not have realized the similarities if the line wasn’t sung almost exactly the same way.

“King At His Ends (Lemmings)” sounds like “Sail To The Moon” with a bit of “Pyramid Song” thrown in. Russo utilizes the same reverb laced oohh and aahhs that Yorke made popular. “Stained Teeth” is the most original sounding song of the five and contains a solid floating guitar part and infectious vocal melody. 

The album ends with an instrumental number called “Takeover,” which consists of a subdued electronic beat, piano and various fluxating electronic components. It still had a Radiohead-type vibe but post OK computer.

Moniker is creating music that is heavily influenced by Radiohead and Thom Yorke. He might as well be playing songs from their albums because it sounds so similar. If Moniker is going to want to maintain an audience for his originality he is going to have put aside the influence and start making music that doesn’t sound so overtly like his inspirations. On the other hand if his goal is to sound as close to Radiohead and Thom Yorke without actually playing their songs he already accomplished it.  

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