On their first full length album, local troubadours and former Three Stars subjects, The Moderate do exactly what a band should when expanding their recorded catalog: add other dimensions to their sound. All of the songs from their AM/FM EP appear on The Rest Is Up to You, but where sadness seemed to be the predominant emotion on the EP, the eight new tracks show that The Moderate are capable of fleshing out their…

All three of the songs on The Moderate’s release, AM/FM, show a very strong imprint from singer/guitarist Jim Dempsey and drummer Drew Marks’ home state of North Carolina. From Dempsey’s twangy drawl to the songs’ seemingly heat and humidity laden relaxed tempo, there’s no question where this band’s roots lie. The blues that they evoke on “Lost Boy”, “Rock and Roll” and “Blue Eyes and Barflies” could make your puppy cry. The majority of The…