People are so fickle. If something doesn't match the predefined ideals they have laid out in front of them, it has to not be good. "Gonzo", Foxy Shazam's latest album is nothing like their previous outings and I, for one, am grateful. This album shows so much growth and maturity. It's stripped down, it was recorded in one take, from start to finish and it shows that Eric Nally and crew have the ability to reign in the chaos that makes their stadium rock so big.
So it doesn't surprise me that the video for the first single, "Tragic Thrill" also shows that same restraint and forethought the album does. It's simple, it's not flashy, it's just easy. Whatever it was that was pushing the guys through the creation of this album resonates with me because life isn't always loud and rawkus. It's got sharp edges and is pointy sometimes and causes hurts and times of healing. If you're a fan of the message Foxy has been giving all along, you can set aside all the petty bullshit the internet gives you and appreciate this album for the lighter side it gives us.
I've talked about Foxy Shazam before. I've talked about how I felt they were the saviors of the Rock and Roll genre. If you need any proof, this song and video should shatter any doubt you had in your mind. Eric Nally is one of the most magnetic front men of any band ever. This song is less than 3 minutes and they are able to cram so much amazing into 180 seconds is ridiculous. I've had the pleasure to see them in concert and I can't wait to see them again. They are Rock and Rollers and this is music at its finest. Anything else I type here is just going to be me gushing about how great the video is or how happy I am to see this as a video, so I'll let you judge.
There are a few bands that do things and do them well. What Foxy Shazam does well is blow the top off anything they attempt. With the video for their latest single, "I Like It", they excel at doing just that. From start to finish this is an exercise in excess and I like it. Not only do I like it, I love with it. It's a non-stop riot of a video showcasing everything that is great about the band. Eric owns every part of the stage and does the exact same with every part of the screen. Alex and Sky are also bouncing off the walls as they are prone to do. It's an amazing video and I can't get enough of it. I'm actually having a difficult time coming up with things to say about the video because it is so great. Just watch it and see for yourself.
I feel there has been a gap in the music industry for pure, unadulterated rock and roll. I'm talking about over the top, balls to the wall, unapologetic American Rock and Roll. The type of music that just takes over and makes you forget all your troubles. So when I started listening to Cincinnati based Foxy Shazam's new album, The Church of Rock and Roll I totally felt like I had been welcomed home by an old friend. From start to finish, this album is nothing short of amazing. There wasn't a whole lot of room for improvement on their last album being as it was one of the best albums released in 2010 so to say this album seems more polished and refined is a bit weird to actually say, but it's true. I don't think I can fault this album at all.
From the opening riffs of "Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll" to "Freedom", this album is a rollicking romp through musical excess and only in the best sense of every note. The composition of every song is so strong and full of every best intention that it's hard to pick any faults at all. The album is packed with songs like "Forever Together" and "(It's) Too Late Baby" show that the band has grown and matured and are totally comfortable standing on their feet as balladeers but other songs like "I Like It", "Holy Touch" and "The Streets" accentuate the their ability to rock your face off with heavy guitar riffs and mind blowing choruses. This isn't a concept album or anything experimental, it's just a great example of what unfiltered rock and roll with a point of view sounds like.
You hear all the time that Eric Nally and the guys have picked up where Queen or The Darkness have left off and it is so easy to see those comparisons can be made but I need to make it clear, Foxy Shazam is in no way a one dimensional band that is just mimicking those other groups. They have their own sound, their own feeling and more than anything they are their own group. If there are influences taken from the other bands, it is a only done in the most humbling manner possible to pay homage to the history that is so rich. I can't say enough how good this album is. There is enough content packed into these 11 songs to make the album feel twice as big. If you get a chance to see them in concert, do so; especially their upcoming tour with The Darkness. It's going to be massive and just so full of bad ass rock and roll you will not be disappointed.
The album is available on Vinyl, CD and Digital at all reputable audio outlets and you should pick it up in one or more format because it needs to be in your collection. This album is already going in my Top 25 of 2012, most probably one of my Top 5.
Not many artists have the ability to harness something greater than themselves but it seems that Eric Sean Nally has found the torch laid down by Freddie Mercury, picked it up and run with it. Not that I am saying Foxy Shazam is Queen or ever will be Queen but they have potentially filled a gap left by one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Formed in Cincinnati in 2004, Foxy Shazam was named One of the 100 bands you need to know by the Alternative Press and have written songs for Meatloaf.
Their self titled album, released in April 2010 takes you on an auditory journey that can only be described as large. You can listen to the album in your car, in your room, in your iPod and it sounds amazing but scaling it up to something larger, say a stadium tour with 100,000 other fans the music is still going to sound just as good. Not many albums or artists can scale that way and I think it is an absolute sign of longevity and staying power. My hope is that have not exhausted their brilliance in one album.
