Listen: Night Moves - "Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry"

photo by Bryan Derballa

I say without a sliver of hyperbole that I have been waiting for a follow record from Minneapolis' Night Moves almost immediately after holing up with their debut album Colored Emotions and subsequent live video binge. Considering their wide range of influences and musical interests, what a follow up would sound like was pretty much anyone's guess. However with "Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry", the first single from their recently announced sophomore record Pennied Days, fans have a least a hint of what to expect.

"Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry" somehow manages to curb the band's countrified twang in favor of more streamlined pop hooks without actually seeming like that much of a change. A gradual pivot instead of a shark-jumping leap, Night Moves still have a trick or two up their sleeve that makes me truly excited for the record. The molasses-slow swagger of Colored Emotions is replaced with a insistent forward momentum and bit of harmonic pyrotechnics as John Pelant and Micky Alfano settle into fast paced interlocking grooves. No doubt aided by the duo's years of playing together, "Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry" is a brisk jam that still manages to memorable and ear catching.

With "Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry", Night Moves return triumphant and reinvigorated with their best foot forward in a move that bodes particularly well for the rest of Pennied Days. It might be a couple months until the album's release but "Denise, Don't Wanna See You Cry" is strong enough to instill the surest of confidence that it's going to be an absolute thrill ride and I'd expect nothing less.



Night Moves' sophomore record Pennied Days is out March 25th on Domino. The record is available for pre-order now.