Listening to Half Moon Run for years has allowed me to really appreciate the times when they decide to change things up. Their brand new record A Blemish in the Great Light is more than a change in sound; it’s a complete shift in their writing, and that’s okay.
Their 2019 record integrates folk and alt-rock but introduces a more pop-based sound that totally shifts the focus from rough and edgy to songs that sound a little more swingy and fun.
Songs like “Then Again” bring Half Moon Run’s traditional sound back, but a completely new shift in sound can be found in “Favourite Boy,” which is the melodic love song you never thought you would hear from a group so famous for their grit. The hardcore fans might not appreciate a love song from their formerly dark and edgy alt-rock band, but hey, it’s their new sound.
The best part about the album and the band itself is that A Blemish in the Great Light probably isn’t where Half Moon Run is going to stay in terms of their sound. They are constantly changing and moving forward. That said, A Blemish in the Great Light offers a very new pop-style set of songs with just enough grunginess to keep listeners happy.
