Why? New Album Moh Lhean: Review & Stream
As I write this, I have The Barely Blur on repeat.
When I first heard this album, I felt a bit disappointed, but as I do when I hear every album for the first time from any of my favorite artists.
There are only a few musicians that I have ever made an effort to see live, and Why? (Yoni) is definitely the person/group I’ve seen more than any other artist(s), period. So I absolutely have high expectations for everything he does/they do.
While listening, I kept seeking the innovation that I fell in love with as a kid that Yoni always incorporated into his music development. I was waiting for the type of passion that he had while yelling,
“And I know saying all this in public should make me feel funny
But you gotta yell something out you’d never tell nobody”
on Into the Shadows of my Embrace from their album, Eskimo Snow. I was hoping for the chills that Crushed Bones, Whispers into Another, Act Five, and Light Leaves gave me when first popping Elephant Eyelash into my CD player 10 or so years ago.
I did not find what I was looking for in this project as a fan, as a snob, as a person, and in Why?. Until, I heard The Barely Blur. I realized that what I was looking for is not supposed to be in this piece. Yoni is no longer in his mid to late twenties, and I am no longer 20 years old. I cannot compare today, to a decade ago.
As I write this, I have The Barely Blur on repeat.
Not only because it is my favorite track on the album, but it provokes nostalgia that I yearned from this project. It demonstrates the growth of Why?, and the maturity of their music. It’s been a long road from the time of Greenthink, cLOUDDEAD, and Reaching Quiet for Yoni, and I was there listening to his journey for nearly 15 years.
Listening to this album makes me proud, optimistic, and unexpectedly happy despite its overall dark theme. I appreciate them going back to performing more as a band, than rap, and I always dig their extensive outros, use of samples of videos or old recordings, and smooth transitioning from track to track. If you are a fan of Alopecia, and Eskimo Snow, Moh Lhean will grow on you, and become your new favorite Why? album. If you are an old man like me, and grew up listening to Mush Records, you will have a respectful perspective on this album and a sense of pride that at age 37/38 Why?/Yoni is still creating some really cool music. Thank you for this new album.
