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Annapolis, Maryland (1986 – 1991)

Moss Icon was an Annapolis, Maryland punk rock band from 1986 to 1991. The original members were Jonathan Vance, Tonie Joy, Monica DiGialleonardo, and Mark Laurence. Moss Icon are most known for their influence on the splinter genre of punk known as post-hardcore, and affiliation to the original DC bands born in the so-called “Revolution Summer” of 1985, including Rites of Spring, Gray Matter, Rain, Embrace, and Maryland’s Hated.

The band’s identifying characteristics, and those that distinguish them from their contemporaries, include noticeable and abrupt transitions from loud to quiet, Joy’s distinct arpeggiated guitar (often undistorted and picked), and Vance’s esoteric, sometimes meandering lyrical content. Earlier recordings of the band are remniscent of early Joy Division, particularly in guitar style, while later songs embodied a less blunt approach, noted by some detractors as making Moss Icon “like Grateful Dead for punks.” The band championed, among other issues, the plight of indigenous peoples in the Americas, and opposed the US Government’s involvement in Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Moss Icon recorded their debut 7”, “Hate in Me”, in January 1988 and entered the studio several months later to record their second 7”, Mahpuia Luta. Their “Lyburnum Wits End Liberation Fly” LP was recorded by Les Lentz and Tony French throughout 1988 and released in mid-1994 by Vermiform.
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  • Lyburnum
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  • It Disappears
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  • s/t EP
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  • s/t 7"
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  • FilupLees

    Listening to remastered versions of these songs is so odd. I can't help but feel the guitar is too loud compared to the bass and vocals, but if this was how I had been listening to it for years before I'm sure I'd have no complaints.

    15 hours ago

  • haloedeyes

    complete discography is definitely a misnomer more like the lp and the 7"s remastered but still compared to buying them alone yes? and also the best fucking band ever gets some recognition.

    13 days ago

  • floramaybackrub

    The fact the Cape of Holes, Cornflower Blue, and Nov 10th (autumn whirlwind) are not on there is very disappointing. By far of deserving to be catagorized with the rest of these wonderful songs.

    13 days ago

  • Massive_Anus

    wat

    13 days ago

  • Untrve

    The tracks are way too loud, that's my only problem with it.

    15 days ago

  • lightgoesaway

    Tonie Joy from MOSS ICON expounds on the track selection for the remastered discography: "The main goal of this reissue effort has been to make all of the official Moss Icon releases that contained original studio recordings available again to anyone interested, taking advantage of the opportunity to improve the fidelity as well as visual/aesthetic impact, sequencing of songs, etc. Songs that ended up on random, obscure compilations were put there for a reason. They were loose, badly performed takes or incomplete fragments of songs; they were recorded/mixed badly, etc. Most of all they were not a part of the original documents that we released, that original vision we had for Moss Icon. I will be making these tracks available later this year on my own website, as well as the Moss Icon website." - Tonie Joy, Moss Icon Well there you go.

    25 days ago

  • FilupLees

    Cornflower Blue was on the False Object Sensor compilation LP/CD for Vermiform's 50th(?) release and had a bunch of old songs from various Vermiform bands. Sioux Day was on a cassette compilation called Superpowers. I'm fairly certain that was Troubleman Unlimited's first release. Cornflower Blue is sort of Memorial 7" esque, and Sioux Day sounds more mid-careerish.

    27 days ago

  • Mintrude2K7

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_GbwOgGMqs Here's another rare track that wasn't on the discog. Someone really needs to make some sorta collection of all those super-rare tracks.

    last month
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