Oxmoore, The Black and White Album
By: Craig LeSieg
First, I want to point out that this album is independently produced, recorded, and mixed by the band. It’s one of the best I’ve heard. Crisp, clear, and well put together, it’s first class all the way. Congrats Austin Garrett on a job very well done.
That had to be said. Now, onto the music.
I’m into it. I’ve listened to it more than once and I’m finding new reasons to like it each time. It’s not the typical hardcore or pop punk. More like old school Seattle grunge with a punk heart.
Lyric-wise, most songs have the attitude and meaning that makes punk great. The sound is a split, jumping from having a punk edge to having grunge and acoustic jams. You’ve got hard hitting guitar and drum driven songs like “Misfits,” then it changes and takes on a new life.
As a punk writer (and a punk for 30 years) it is hard for me to get into a lot of other music. I’m VERY critical about originality and meaning as well as sound. That being said, when this album takes on this different entity, it’s so easy to get lost in the music. You’re sitting there in your wherethefuckever special place. You turn on the music and do whatthefuckever it is you do when you listen to music. Then you look up, 40 minutes have gone by, and you have no idea what happened. So, to me, that’s a good thing. When you don’t think of picking up the needle, or even what the needle is, you just listen and fade away. The music is all that matters and it’s your world.
This is where I’m supposed to tell you to “run out and buy it!” or “save your money, it sucks!” I do not do shit like that. This does not get x amount of stars or a stupid fucking tomato. I just told you what happened when I got this. You decide for yourself.
P.S.
Almost all my tattoos are Leonard Cohen, related, so it’s not all about punk.
You can check out the full record over at Spotify and on iTunes and Apple Music!
