From the same California city that brought us Linkin Park and Hoobastank come a new band that sounds, thankfully, nothing like them. In a week with a new release list that was full of unknowns, Foxygen get the blog prize simply because of a neat name (that's how bands got found in the old days). However, they're also on Jagjaguwar, so I get to be supportive of local ties. And they're produced by a guy in the Shins, so I get to be indie.Foxygen is a self-proclaimed neo-psychedelic band, but that's a simple blanket covering for a band that sounds like they were recorded in one room with lots of echo. They're not so sloppy as to be called "garage" and they employ some interesting instrumentation including organs and mellotrons.
But for anyone turned off by a "psychedelic" label, don't be afraid. Foxygen is mostly succinct and poppy at heart. A favorite, "No Destruction" could be "Hurricane"-era Dylan. ("There's no need to be an asshole, you're not in Brooklyn anymore")
Other songs, like "Shuggie" also start off quite modern sounding and they simply add four bars at a different chord and or/time signature to throw off what would otherwise be straightforward. Like Portugal. The Man, perhaps. The title track will rock out your bong party better than anything Steppenwolf ever laid to wax.
The album title might assume that they're overreaching, and even if the last track sounds like a pointless collection of droning noises for the sake of filling time, you'll forgive them for the fun you had up to then. (4 of 5 stars)
No comments:
Post a Comment