Track Listing

1. Malibu Love Nest
2. Cindy Tastes of Barbecue
3. Speedbumps
4. Owl & The Pussycat
5. Astronaut
6. Broken Chair
7. Star-Spangled Man
8. Motel Bambi
9. Still at Home
10. Buffalo Boots
11. Rainbow Babe

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30293 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-24
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
"Rendezvous," the latest jewel in the crown of New York City alt-rock royalty Luna, also proves to be their most brilliant.

Amazon.com
Luna’s allegedly last studio album is astonishing, their best since 1995’s Penthouse. The band has arrived at a pleasant, Television-on-xanax variant of indie-rock that’s so smart, sexy, and sophisticated, it threatens to melt right into the background. As befits a group thinking of (their own) empire, Luna revisits one of their best songs, "Astronaut." Like the rest of the album, here it’s leaner, stronger, and slower, while "Malibu" and "Owl" display some of the finest, melodic and stripped-down guitar playing since the Feelies’ heyday. Much of what helps raise Luna from pretty sonic wallpaper are Wareham’s lyrics. Delivered in a stylish deadpan, Wareham’s words seem to owe much to New York School poets like John Ashbery, Joe Brainard, and, of course Lou Reed. But while "Star Spangled Man" is a great song whose lyrics are composed at least partly of stolen song titles ("tell me something good," "unknown pleasures")--is it great because of or in spite of the horrible, horrible pun "Chairman Mouse"? We shall leave it to grad students of the future to decide. --Mike McGonigal

Rolling Stone
‘Scandalously beautiful’

Customer Reviews

Sean Eden, please step forward
Luna's singer and principle songwriter Dean Wareham has announced this is the final Luna album. And I was disappointed to hear this. But honestly, Sean Eden, the other guitar player, writes and sings the two best songs on this new record. It may be sacrilege, but I think it's time to pull a Phil Collins (sorry, bad example) and promote this guy to lead singer.

In terms of general album critique, I do really like this record. It's less intense and dreamier than Romantica. I don't think it's the lyrical triumph Romantica was, but it's great to listen to. My main criticism is that I would not have included Astronaut. It seems too much like a last stab at a hit single for a band that doesn't need one. And it was already on the last EP, "Close Cover Before Striking." It just sticks out like a sore thumb and hurts the flow of an otherwise great record. Personally, I've taken it out of my iPod and the record is better for it.

A Beautiful Legacy
Rendezvous marks the end of an era of beautiful, dreamy music from the highly underrated band Luna. After their early 2005 farewell tour, Luna will no longer exist. This album is amazing and nearly perfect in every way. The songs range from beat driven, energetic tracks like Speedbumps and Astronaut, to sweet and languid tunes like Cindy Tastes of Barbecue and Star Spangled Man.

One of the highlights of this album are the two songs written by guitarist Sean Eden, who provides lead vocals for the first and last time on a Luna album. Broken Chair and Still at Home sound somewhat different than typical Luna, but are beautiful and feature the amazing guitar work that has become synonymous with the band.

If you have never listened to Luna before, I highly recommend this album, as well as their third release Penthouse. These two albums are Luna at their finest.

Respectable (If Underwhelming) Climax For A Great (And Highly Underrated) Band
Pop Kulcher Review: After 13 or so years, Luna is apparently calling it quits. I'm not sure if it's out of respect for this great band that many critics have raved about Rendezvous, purportedly their final album, but, alas, I've gotta say I find it only on par with recent efforts -- in other words, pefectly fine, but not up to the standards set by their first 4 albums. The first half of the band's existence was fantastic, a nice mix of Velvety drones and post-R.E.M. murky indie jangle hooks and retro-60s psychedelic grooves, but since their peak with 1995's Penthouse (and 1997's underrated Pup Tent), there's been a real lack of edge to their work. The more catchy pop tunes have been replaced by a languid, sexy groove -- many fine moments to play in the background while popping a bottle of champagne in a dark room, but not a lot of songs you'd be inclined to pay a lot of attention to -- and that same feel pervades much of Rendezvous. That's not to say it isn't a good album; Wareham's Reed-like sung-spoken warble can still captivate, and a few hooks do rise to the surface (i.e. the chipper "Malibu Love Nest" and "Astronaut," the simple guitar-driven "Buffalo Boots," the rocking "Speedbumps"). And this may appeal more to fans of Wareham's earlier band Galaxie 500 -- like much of that band's work, many of these songs start with a simple, understated verse/chorus structure and then veer into crescendoing trippy guitar raves. Unfortunately, the better moments are diluted by a couple contributions from guitarist Sean Eden; his songs aren't bad, but lack Wareham's distinctive style. Bottom line -- longtime fans will find moments here to love, but casual listeners or newbies should stick with Luna's glory days.