“The Underdog” is the most recent single from North Carolina’s Totally different Moon, the banner adopted during the last 9 years for Jim Piper’s songwriting. Practically twenty singles, a number of EP releases, and a number of award nominations later, Totally different Moon continues to provide new and essential songwriting that doesn’t reinvent the songwriting wheel, however nonetheless recasts the acquainted in recent and invigorating methods. Piper’s ardour for writing new songs retains driving him on; he’s what you possibly can name a “lifer”. Destiny might prohibit him from releasing any additional music tomorrow. Nonetheless, Piper would preserve going, creating, taking part in, and discovering himself by way of music. It’s possible as intrinsic as respiratory for him.

The synthesis of music, vocals, and lyrics undoubtedly unfolds that manner. Some songs emerge from their creators like they’re floating round within the breeze already written and awaiting the best artist to present it a voice. “The Underdog” comes off that manner. It’s an ideal illustration of how one can have a rousing tune with out ever descending into cookie-cutter predictability. The staggered tempo of the opening isn’t typical of this “sort” of tune. Listeners will really feel at dwelling with it after a number of seconds and it acts as a hook into the remainder of the tune.

Lyrical hooks matter quite a bit for this observe as effectively. The “hey you” strains within the opening verse have the meant impact. It grabs a listener’s consideration, by no means in an affordable style, and there’s one thing fairly pressing about Piper’s vocal supply that makes it crucial that we proceed listening. We really feel on acquainted floor language-wise. This songwriting approaches the listener on their degree and with immense intelligence.

You may inform that he’s completely invested within the tune. He bears down vocally on a number of key strains all through the tune, significantly throughout the pre-chorus and refrain, however is aware of when to take a gentler method as he does throughout the tune’s bridge. The development of this observe is immaculate. Piper’s manufacturing expertise are exemplary. He delineates every instrument, together with his voice, with a eager ear, and there’s by no means any sense of litter weighing down the tune.

The guitar undoubtedly provides it loads of rock chew. His use of piano and keyboards enhances the guitar taking part in fairly properly, and the transient instrumental breaks enable him an opportunity to showcase arranging depth. He’s written a tune that isn’t tough to root for, and the tune’s topic has a basic fairly than particular body of reference that permits listeners to extra readily establish with the observe. This is likely one of the keystones of any nice tune.

It’s the most recent triumph for one of many indie scene’s best-kept open secrets and techniques. Totally different Moon has come a great distance since Piper and his now-deceased highschool pal Mike Smith first conceived the undertaking virtually ten years in the past. It nonetheless has the identical vibrant sense of objective, nonetheless, and “The Underdog” illustrates there’s ample fuel left within the inventive tank for an additional ten years. It’s a successful efficiency from the primary observe to the final.

Mindy McCall