The Moondoggies: The Sound Of A Drizzly Day

Christopher Nelson/Courtesy of Press Here Publicity

With its dark notions rolled up in a murky, cathartic haze, The Moondoggies' "What Took So Long" is perfect for a solitary, overcast afternoon.

The Moondoggies' music sounds exactly like the band's drizzly Seattle home: The heavy fog and rain of the Pacific Northwest is perfectly evoked in the group's dreamy, hazy melodies. Amid pretty harmonies, singer Kevin Murphy's gravelly voice is tempered with occasional falsettos that slide into a deep, soothing croon. In a manner atypical of the style, the guitar gets buried a bit, allowing the bass and drums to push The Moondoggies' songs forward.

The words to "What Took So Long" are abstract, yet simple and repetitive, as the chorus begs, "Wake up, wake up / Let me drink from the cup / 'Cause I don't have the will / What took so long?" Though their message isn't exactly clear, the verses echo the band's themes of trust, togetherness, optimism and realism: "Please don't let on that you realize / We keep our hopes on the night skies / And if it's just one big lie / Heaven knows what we all hide." With those dark notions rolled up in a murky, cathartic haze, "What Took So Long" is a perfect soundtrack to a solitary, overcast afternoon.