This album starts off with “Gran Paradise”, and it gets obvious very quick that this is far from the Foxing we met a few years back. There are some powerful piano chords, a much more synthetic sound, and the band just sound so much more up front. Like, they used to be a band that you had to be patient with. But seconds in we’re getting these soulful, Artsy hooks that years ago would have been not too shocking to hear from TV on the Radio. And honestly, it took me a while to really wrap my head around this all. I think that it really takes some time to get going, and it’s only when everything else comes crashing in that things get decent. I actually think that this is a really interesting direction for the band. I just wish it was presented even bigger. But with “Slapstick” it becomes obvious that however much more out of their shell they are, Foxing is still an Emo band at heart. I love the throwback Slowcore vibe of this one, and just how gentle and endearing these vocals are. This one is just so patient and builds up an atmosphere which is just so somber and strong. It’s what I’ve enjoyed from them in the past, and it honestly sounds better than ever. Foxing just sounds so much more focused, which is absolutely something I can appreciate. They’ve also focused on bringing in some heavier instrumentals, which actually come off amazing here. It’s big, epic, but also not too far from what I originally enjoyed from these guys. And when those guitars come crashing in in later moments, it’s a wonderful, emotional thing. Now, of all of the straight up “in-your-face” tracks here, “Lich Prince” may just be the most passionate. I have no idea where these vocals came from, but they’re wild and incredibly passionate. Now, in a weird way, there is a sort of throwback feel to this that comes off wonderfully. But forget all of that, this is just a seriously passionate and emotional tune. The vocals here just seem so human and heartfelt, and I love the determination of this. There are still Art Rock and Emo influences and instrumentally there’s even some Post-Rock thrown in. This is literally just Foxing in an entirely new light. If you didn’t like what they were doing in the past, you should absolutely check this out. But at the same time, if you dug that you may be seriously confused by this. And that guitar solo comes out of nowhere which is exciting as hell, and the overall intensity of this one is wild. But with “Gameshark” things really start to get really hit or miss with me here. I do love the tension and all, and the instrumentals are easily some of the heavier and more intense of the bunch. But these vocals have just gone from straight-up passionate and soulful to obnoxious. Like, why am I getting a total Blood Brothers vibe to this? The Math Rock vibes are intense, and as far as that goes, this is all gravy. But I just don’t feel like any of these vocals per say come off as good as they’re meant to. It’s exciting and genuinely shocking, but that’s about all.
On the other hand, I actually do really love the passionate and whimsical feeling of “Nearer My God”. You really have to give it to some of these vocals, because they’re absolutely stunning. And alongside just how quiet and sweet these instrumentals are, I have to say it makes things come off even wilder. But I do still feel like there is a little bit of a throwback feel to this. Like, why am I totally getting an 80’s vibe to this? Her, it works, and it comes off as a whole lot of shimmering, euphoric goodness. It also at the same time, reminds me of just how simple Emo used to be. It’s insanely passionate, gigantic and beautiful. But more than that, it’s also incredibly sincere. But seeing a 9-minute track from Foxing coming from a mile away actually worried me. And honestly, I have good reason to be worried. HEre, these heavily effect-laced vocals are just really strange. Like, so far the vocals on this album have been totally fine and actually stunning in parts. Meaning, we shouldn’t be sitting here listening to them fuck around with autotune for 9-minutes. There are some cool elements here like I actually really love the woozy production and the very patient instrumental. But vocally, thy is the first time on the album that I’m entirely not interested in what’s going on. Even lyrically this is genuinely cheesy compared to just how emotional and powerful the material we’ve gotten so far has been. This is just so overblown, and I feel like there are enough good ideas here for a 4-minute song. Those Post-Rock influences which were pretty cool earlier I just want to go away now, and this track literally ends up being nauseating. And like, yea, there are some truly beautiful moments in the last 30 seconds, but you have to go a LONG way for that. “Heartbeats” retaliates however with a very classy direction. I mean, I’m not too shocked because the band has dipped their hat into Jazz before. But these strings are just seriously classy and sweet. And vocally, this is still by far just the absolutely most passionate thing this band has put out. I do love just how whimsical this is, and just how progressive this continues to be. Like, this is extremely classy and just a wild change of pace for the band. But in cases like this, I love it. I love the throwback vocals, the endless atmosphere, it all works. But so many of these slow, dreary tunes like “Trapped In Dillard’s” just make this album rough. Here, they try blending in some electronics and all of this garbage that just seems to do nothing for them. It’s a very dreary, emotional track, but these are some of the least flattering vocals of the album. This track in general just sounds like it could have been so much more.
The sort-of throwback vibes continue with “Bastardizer”. And I mean really, this instrumental sounds ripped straight from the 80’s years of Roxy Music. Honestly, though, it’s still very classy and has some shimmering synths and a really cool atmosphere. But this one isn’t nearly as gigantic and emotional as other tracks. Vocally, it’s actually on the softer side for once which is strange. This one has some really intense moments, but too much of this track I feel like Foxing don’t know what they want. And is that an actual fucking Bagpipe in the background? And sadly, things only get worse. While I at least have been able to find some elements of the last few tracks to enjoy, “Crown Candy” is just bringing me down. Once again, we see the band going for yet another dreary, emotional ballad. But this one is a mess. Don’t get me wrong, when used right the band’s newfound love of Art Rock is classy. But this, THIS, is boring to the point where I can’t say anything about it. So many of these tracks have a really great base to them deep down. With “Won’t Drown”, once again this has a really classy instrumental, and the encapsulating atmosphere is just fine. Not to mention, the vocals here are brilliant. But why do I feel like this is just so rushed? I seriously feel here that Foxing took 6 different ideas and chucked them at the wall. And believe it or not, it really doesn’t sound good at all. There are some cool elements, like the bluesy and distressed vocals, and of course the very bulky backing instrumentations. But everything else about this is a joke. But “Lambert” as a finale actually has a pretty cool vibe to it. I love the very subtle synths and the cold atmosphere. It’s just so grim, and not inviting at all which is really different for Foxing. Not to mention, I feel like this track at least has a purpose. I do really wish this was even bigger and these vocals weren’t tame. It’s very endearing and powerful, it just could have been even more. And it does eventually get there, and that’s just fine. I just don’t know why it took so long to get there, which is honestly something I can say about most of this album.
Rating: 6.8/10
Give A Listen To: “Slapstick”, “Lich Prince”, “Nearer My God”, “Heartbeats”
Least Favorite Track: “Five Cups”
Genre: Art Rock / Emo / Post Rock
Overall Thoughts: I mean, I have to give Foxing credit because they did a total 180 here, leaving behind most of their sound entirely. Gone are the days of slow-burning Emo mixed with the occasional breakout into Jazz and Math Rock, and in its place is a much more Ambient, Synth Driven sound. And as far as the base of all of these tracks goes, clearly Foxing are on to something. But there are way too many awkward twists and turns to this that just don’t add up for me. Whether it be out of place vocals, Post-Rock elements that are way too hit and miss, and one too many tracks here that blend together way too much, this is sloppy. Foxing have their sound, now they have to master it.
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