By Annie Holub
Arizona Daily Wildcat | January 28, 1999
On the Way Down from the Moon Palace, Lisa Germano’s debut solo album, was originally released on Lisa Germano’s own label, Major Bill, in 1991, and was rereleased in 1993 on Egg Records. Last week, Koch Records re-rereleased it.
So this album has been reprinted twice, which leaves one wondering, what’s so special about it?
On the Way Down from the Moon Palace weaves in between melodic instrumentals and raucous rock songs, creating a weird mish-mash of genres and music styles, all held together by Germano’s ever-present violin and fiddle and breathy voice. Most of the tracks were originally recorded on a 4-track, with Germano performing most of the instrumentation. At times, it sounds like the soundtrack to “An American Tail” (“Simply Tony,” “The Other One,” ), at others it sounds like a Celtic jig (“On the Way Down from the Moon Palace,” “Screaming Angels Dancing In Your Garden”), and still at others it sounds like a polished pop album (“Guessing Game,” “Dig My Own Grave”).
On the Way Down from the Moon Palace manages to bring together all of Germano’s capabilities as a songwriter and musician. She first achieved status in the music world as John Cougar Mellencamp’s violin player, and has since played with Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, as well as a short stint that backfired with the Smashing Pumpkins, but as this album clearly re-reiterates with it’s re-rerelease, she’s more than just a fiddle player.
