fishbone singer angelo moore’s new album finds the right balance between social consciousness and introspection. #soundcheck

As the frontman for one of the most influential bands of the 80’s and 90’s, Fishbone singer and massive saxophone enthusiast Angelo Moore could easily rest on his laurels as a punk and funk pioneer. Like so many punk luminaries before him, an endless stream of increasingly self-derivative releases that exist as little more than an excuse to tour and play the classics would be forgivable. So it’s to his credit that the venerable singer is trying something new with his latest project Sacrifice by Angelo Moore & the Brand New Step.

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

With his backing band Brand New Step (which is also the name of the first single), Moore explores slower tempos than he ever could have with Fishbone, periodically even venturing into soul territory. Opening with the slow groove, but still hard “Endless Possibilities,” the album kicks off with one of the best songs Moore has written in years. Maybe even decades.

It’s surprising given Fishbone’s legendary chaos that the best songs on the record should be the slowest. “Sacrifice” and “Now Everyone Will Know” showcase an introspective Moore we never really saw in Fishbone. Elsewhere, his socially conscious soul burns bright, particularly on “Don’t Hold Back.” From the feel, to the production, Sacrifice is a record refreshingly uninterested in reliving past glories. The record ends with “Stand Up,” a song that looks back to mid-90’s hip-hop for inspiration. It’s a curious choice on an album interested primarily in looking to the future. But maybe sometimes you have to look back to take a step forward.