2008 Woodie Awards
Adam Green Releases a Gem
"Gemstones" shows a more developed Green
Jacob Hartz
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: Arts & Culture
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This February, one of the most popular new stars in Germany is a twenty-something stoner from New York with a bigger "Yiddische punim" than your local Orthodox rabbi. His name is Adam Green and while you were sleeping over here in the States, this former Moldy Peach has been taking Europe by storm with his oddball lyrics and old-fashioned melodies reminiscent of American musical theater and Weimar-era cabaret.
His latest album, Gemstones, is the culmination of many years of musical output, both with his Moldy Peaches bandmate Kimya Dawson and on his own. The Moldy Peaches were regarded by many as a novelty act, as Green and Dawson were wont to dress as tigers, cats and other bizarre creatures, as well as singing their own rendition of "Little Bunny Foo Foo" and an original composition called "Who's Got the Crack?" among others of similar titular craziness. The Moldy Peaches, however, split ways several years ago under the guise of taking a break but never really got back together, nor do they have plans to do so in the near future. Dawson, as well as Green, has found new success with other crowds.
Green's fist solo album, Garfield, was more or less a continuation of his work with Dawson. The emphasis was on the words more so than the music and was therefore less palatable to large audiences. In other words, you really had to be a fan in order to appreciate him. The majority of the album was recorded by Green himself at home and featured guest appearances by his mother, among other non-professionals. While it was not revolutionary, it did represent the lack of damn that Green gave about the music business and its mores.
Friends of Mine, his second solo production, exhibited more melodious melodies and diverse orchestrations. One may have thought that he would have won more fans with such a musically beautiful album, but such was not the case in America. It was the Germans who really took to Green initially and for that reason he has become quite famous in Europe, touring Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Denmark, the UK, Norway and Sweden. Although he toured North America as well, he did not play as many shows in as many prestigious venues.
His latest album, Gemstones, is the culmination of many years of musical output, both with his Moldy Peaches bandmate Kimya Dawson and on his own. The Moldy Peaches were regarded by many as a novelty act, as Green and Dawson were wont to dress as tigers, cats and other bizarre creatures, as well as singing their own rendition of "Little Bunny Foo Foo" and an original composition called "Who's Got the Crack?" among others of similar titular craziness. The Moldy Peaches, however, split ways several years ago under the guise of taking a break but never really got back together, nor do they have plans to do so in the near future. Dawson, as well as Green, has found new success with other crowds.
Green's fist solo album, Garfield, was more or less a continuation of his work with Dawson. The emphasis was on the words more so than the music and was therefore less palatable to large audiences. In other words, you really had to be a fan in order to appreciate him. The majority of the album was recorded by Green himself at home and featured guest appearances by his mother, among other non-professionals. While it was not revolutionary, it did represent the lack of damn that Green gave about the music business and its mores.
Friends of Mine, his second solo production, exhibited more melodious melodies and diverse orchestrations. One may have thought that he would have won more fans with such a musically beautiful album, but such was not the case in America. It was the Germans who really took to Green initially and for that reason he has become quite famous in Europe, touring Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Denmark, the UK, Norway and Sweden. Although he toured North America as well, he did not play as many shows in as many prestigious venues.