Ian Moore has not let up on the pop complexity of his arrangements; deft touches by skilled players highlight every track of To Be Loved, his sixth studio album. The depth of his songs’ rock foundation is as strong as ever, and he hasn’t taken it any easier on the melodic drama.
But Moore seems, perhaps for the first time, relaxed, even comfy, in the status quo. Sure, life could be better, but a tweak might do as well as a vault in a different direction. In fact, that thought is explicit in “Wait For The Sun To Come”. What if it never comes? “You just give me a sign and we’ll work it out in time,” he sings.
“Civil Light” covers the alienated feel of a hard winter day, alone, but “Small, Who Would Be Tall” speaks to constancy, love to last through all the wrinkles. Best of all is the title track, an alternately hard-bouncing and psychedelic exploration of everyone’s fantasy, “to be loved by someone else.”
Maturity is serving Moore’s music well. No longer showcasing virtuoso guitar and vocal extremes, he seems committed to harnessing those considerable chops in service to his songs. The overall brighter texture of To Be Loved signals, perhaps, that Moore has found his place.
