This is Moby's first single in which the title track is a rock song.
That being the case, I was somewhat worried that it wouldn't be good.
After all, though he has dabbled in many styles of music, Moby has
distinguished himself as a pioneer of techno. Many of his old fans feel
alienated as he turns to making guitar music instead. To them, this single
may seem like a big step down. Nevertheless,
Revolver
has the potential to get a lot of radio airplay.
But Revolver is in fact a catchy song. Though I haven't been into rock for over five years, this tune grew on me immediately. Perhaps it is because of the emotion Moby pours into each track he makes, be it rock, techno, ambient, or classical. Ironically, as Moby sings "That's when I reach for my revolver... that's when it all gets blown away," with not a little desperation in his voice, it has an inexplicable soothing effect.
Seconds after Revolver ends, the listener is throttled into the anguished speed metal of of Lovesick, which is quite possibly Moby's hardest guitar track yet. It makes What Love seem tame by comparison. After just over a minute, the song ends abruptly and is Displaced, a solemn acoustical piece. Then Sway kicks in with a slow, deep, swaying bass groove. Somewhere between techno and ambient, this is the standout track of the single. Long drawn-out synth notes float through the foggy atmospheric refrain that seems to be oblivious to the motion of time. What sounds like samples from The Rain Falls And The Sky Shudders can be heard softly in the background.
If you like Moby but hate rock, don't despair! Pick up the Revolver Remixes single. Its first track is an excellent clubby remix, which retains (or even enhances) the emotional qualities of the title song by expanding it out over a dark techno canvas, backed by female vocal samples and underscored by a hard beat.
In Every One Of My Problems, a looping string chord slowly fades in and suddenly explodes into one of Moby's trademark techno anthems. The wailing diva can get a little annoying, but this track really kicks, with great harmonics and that unbeatable old skool vibe. But soon it is over and we slow down in reverence for the spiritual ballad of God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters, which is derived from Genesis 1:2 in the Bible. This is the much-sought-after mix that was composed for the movie Heat, but withheld from the soundtrack. The last track on the second disc is a Dark excursion through murk, riding on an eerie sustained chord. It gives me the impression of running through deserted inner city streets at night.
Overall, though the Revolver single will not be everyone's cup of tea, don't be surprised if you find it surprisingly good. =)
It might be worth noting that Clint Conley, the man who wrote and sang That's When I Reach For My Revolver on Signals Calls and Marches by Mission of Burma went to Darien High School a few years before Moby got there. MOB is one of Moby's favorite bands from the old days.
THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER [26 Aug 1996] UK 12" promo, Mute, P12Mute184 UK 12", Mute, 12Mute184 NOTE: The promo contains the same tracks, but the front of its sleeve shows a large Moby logo (the new version) instead of the picture of Moby standing in a hall. The other guy in the picture is Paul Yates. A 10:20 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (The Rollo & Sister Bliss Vocal Mix) B 10:10 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (The Rollo & Sister Bliss Instrumental Mix) THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER {#1} (13:17) [26 Aug 1996] UK CD, Mute, CDMute184 GE CD, Mute/Intercord, MUTE INT 826.691 NOTE: This is the first single from Moby's new album, "Animal Rights". It also debuts the new Moby logo. 1 3:55 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Single Version) 2 1:03 Lovesick 3 1:23 Displaced 4 6:50 Sway THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER REMIX {#2} (23:46) [26 Aug 1996] UK CD, Mute, LCDMute184 GE CD, Mute/Intercord, MUTE INT 826.692 NOTE: "God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters (Heat Mix)" is not exactly the same as the version in the movie Heat. 1 10:20 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (The Rollo & Sister Bliss Vocal Mix) 2 3:14 Every One Of My Problems 3 5:45 God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters (Heat Mix) 4 4:21 Dark THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER promo [Dec 1996?] US CD promo, Elektra, PRCD 9711-2 NOTE: CD is black with Moby's emblem printed in silver. 1 3:56 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Album Version) 2 3:29 Someone To Love (Live Version) 3 1:58 You (Live Version) 4 4:20 Whip It (Death Metal Version) THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER [21 Jan 1997] US 7", Sub Pop Records, SP 377 A 3:56 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Album Version) B 4:20 Whip It (Death Metal Version) THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER promo US CD promo, Elektra, PRCD 9721-2 NOTE: CD is orange with Moby's emblem printed in black. 1 3:55 That's When I Reach For My Revolver THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER promo [1997] US CD promo, Elektra, PRCD 9759-2 1 3:56 That's When I Reach For My Revolver ("Over Version") 2 3:56 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Album Version) THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER [Mar 1997] US 12", Elektra, 0-63953 A1 6:52 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Moby's Mix) A2 6:58 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Psychotic VE-GUN Mix Edit - Vocal Dub) [Philip Steir] B1 3:44 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (Moby's Mix 1 - Edit) B2 10:23 That's When I Reach For My Revolver (The Rollo & Sister Bliss Vocal Mix) THAT'S WHEN I REACH FOR MY REVOLVER [18 Mar 1997] CD, Elektra, ? NOTE: Includes remixes by Rollo & Sister Bliss, Philip Steir, Flea, and Moby himself. ? _:__ ?