Spring Break
CD Review: Luna Halo Leaves Jesus Behind Long-Awaited Release
Stephanie Dennen
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Entertainment
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10/02/07 - Chances are you've never heard of a little band called Luna Halo. Hailing from Nashville, Tenn., this former Christian rock band is going to be the next big thing.
Formed in 1999 by Nathan Barlowe, Luna Halo has seen a few reinventions in its short years. As mentioned before, Luna Halo was originally a Christian rock band. However, as members came and went, the only member left was Barlowe.
According to the band's MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/lunahalo), Barlowe, the lead vocalist and guitarist, recruited his younger brother Cary, a guitarist, for the band. Later the Barlowe brothers found bassist Aaron Jenkins and drummer Chris Coleman. Recently the band was completed with the addition of keyboardist Matt Erikson.
Together, Jenkins, Coleman, Erikson and the Barlowe brothers make up Luna Halo on the upcoming Oct. 30 release of their self-titled debut on Columbia Records imprint American Recordings. The album was produced by Neal Avon, who has also produced acts like Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy and Everclear.
With its reincarnation, the band moved away from its faith-based Christian roots and into mainstream rock, using relationship experiences as a basis for its songs.
According to its Wikipedia page, in 2004 Luna Halo's Christian fans were angered by this separation, calling the band members "sell outs" and warning future fans against the band for its personal smoking and drinking habits and use of profanity during live performances.
With the addition of sex and drugs to its rock' n' roll, Luna Halo was reborn.
Creating a truly rock album, Luna Halo is one of those bands without a gimmick. It doesn't have cutesy lyrics or hooks and it doesn't call itself "alternative." It just rocks.
That isn't to say that fans of alternative, indie and so-called "emo" bands won't enjoy this album, as Luna Halo seems to have an eclectic appeal. On the surface, there's some of the whiney-sounding vocals that are popular in some of today's acts, yet it is equally matched with a skill and intensity of a classic rock album.
Formed in 1999 by Nathan Barlowe, Luna Halo has seen a few reinventions in its short years. As mentioned before, Luna Halo was originally a Christian rock band. However, as members came and went, the only member left was Barlowe.
According to the band's MySpace profile (www.myspace.com/lunahalo), Barlowe, the lead vocalist and guitarist, recruited his younger brother Cary, a guitarist, for the band. Later the Barlowe brothers found bassist Aaron Jenkins and drummer Chris Coleman. Recently the band was completed with the addition of keyboardist Matt Erikson.
Together, Jenkins, Coleman, Erikson and the Barlowe brothers make up Luna Halo on the upcoming Oct. 30 release of their self-titled debut on Columbia Records imprint American Recordings. The album was produced by Neal Avon, who has also produced acts like Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy and Everclear.
With its reincarnation, the band moved away from its faith-based Christian roots and into mainstream rock, using relationship experiences as a basis for its songs.
According to its Wikipedia page, in 2004 Luna Halo's Christian fans were angered by this separation, calling the band members "sell outs" and warning future fans against the band for its personal smoking and drinking habits and use of profanity during live performances.
With the addition of sex and drugs to its rock' n' roll, Luna Halo was reborn.
Creating a truly rock album, Luna Halo is one of those bands without a gimmick. It doesn't have cutesy lyrics or hooks and it doesn't call itself "alternative." It just rocks.
That isn't to say that fans of alternative, indie and so-called "emo" bands won't enjoy this album, as Luna Halo seems to have an eclectic appeal. On the surface, there's some of the whiney-sounding vocals that are popular in some of today's acts, yet it is equally matched with a skill and intensity of a classic rock album.
