Album Details

• Artist: A Tomato A Day
• Album: The Moon Is Green
• Label: Public Eyesore
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-05-03

Brian Poloncic, the man behind A Tomato A Day (and one of the founders of the Omaha bands Pickwick and Naturaliste) is a haunted and haunting figure. "The Moon is Green" is a seven song EP that makes you worry about and wonder at its creator. Disjointed and lo-fi, Poloncic's droning, oddly whimsical voice, backed by guitar, devastating cello and understated keys, is the central instrument, giving a confessional, naked feel to the somewhat abstract lyrics.

Of the seven songs, "Winter Wind" and "The Highest Kite" stand out as the most poignant and strange. "Halo" and "In A Book" are not far behind. David Downing's cello work is almost as huge a psychic presence as Poloncic himself, a counterpoint that deepens the sense of melancholy dread of the tunes.

Yet the tunes are also childlike, in a hermetic, hopeful way. As with those to whom he is often compared, Poloncic has had his struggles with mental illness. Like Daniel Johnston, Skip Spence and Syd Barrett, he has turned that nightmarish battle with uncertain reality into raw, honest, slightly askew melodies and distracted but moving tunes.

A Tomato A Day may be an apt monicker for the man. Like the adage, he seems deliberate, present, and hoping each careful move will keep the demons at bay.

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