Martin Courtney
Many Moons
DOMINO
7/10
As the frontman of the mellow East Coast rock outfit Real Estate, it makes sense that Martin Courtney would be the last of his bandmates to branch out for a solo endeavor. While Matt Mondanile (Ducktails) and Alex Bleeker (and the Freaks) have put out a steady stream of solo records alongside their main act, Courtney’s has remained the band’s prominent voice and perspective—from their 2009 self-titled debut up through last year’s Atlas. So it should come as no surprise that his solo debut Many Moons sounds, well, a lot like Real Estate—which, for fans of the band, is great news. Sonically and thematically, Many Moons occupies the same world as Atlas. While it doesn’t go anyplace new, Courtney’s ability to lure the listener into a dream state of pleasant inertia is always welcome. And Many Moons is evidence that his power is growing stronger all the time.
