Foxy Shazam's "Gonzo" - A Fan's Lament

Cincinnati-based band Foxy Shazam have been a huge part of my musical life over the past four years. They've released my favorite albums of 2010 and 2012 and my favorite single of 2010. I've seen them live twice and truly adored their larger than life sound and image. So, I was obviously stoked when they surprise-released their new album (for free!) a couple of days ago.

The problem is, Gonzo is not the Foxy Shazam I've grown to love. It's one of the things I hate most when it comes to rock and pop music... it's lo-fi. I realize this is completely a matter of opinion, but I like my rock music big and world-conquering. Now, the band have self-released this album and it's obviously meant to be a smaller, more "live" sounding record. I get that. But I can't bear hearing Eric's vocals produced this way. It just feels so drained out. The frustrating thing is that a handful of these songs (Brutal Truth, in particular) would sound absolutely immense in the hands of past collaborators Rob Cavallo or Justin Hawkins.

It's unfortunately a very difficult time for rock music in America, so much so that a band of this caliber has a hard time breaking into the mainstream. Money, I'm sure, is a concern.  Still, this album is reminding me of The Ark's last release times a million. It's just not my thing at all. Fortunately, I just discovered a new b-side from the last album that I never knew existed. I'll be listening to that instead, I think.

If you're curious, you can download Gonzo here. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Top 20 Albums Of 2012: 2-1

2. One Direction - Take Me Home



In the blogger world, it's not cool to be a One Direction fan. Not that I care, but if we're all being honest with ourselves, you cannot be a pop music fan (or more specifically, power pop) and not enjoy this album. Their production team and (credit where credit is due) the band have upped their game since last year, as this second album is really Big Pop Moment after Big Pop Moment. Thoughts on the teeny-bopper culture surrounding them aside, it's the music that counts. They could have easily followed current trends, but instead they've gone for a slightly 80's, classic pop/rock sound that emphasizes huge choruses and hook after hook. Well, that criteria pretty much describes this blog, doesn't it?

1. Foxy Shazam - The Church Of Rock And Roll



Swinging wildly in another direction, nobody can say my tastes aren't varied! Foxy Shazam earns their second number one placement (their 2010 album was also at the top that year), by being one of the only artists this year that crafted what felt like a classic, proper rock album. This is a band with their own voice, not worried about fitting easily in one genre or another. Throughout the length of the album, they move from gargantuan glam rock anthems to soft coffeehouse warbling to anthemic power balladry. The album has something for everyone, and should have conquered the world in 2012. They sound like the biggest rock band on the planet.

Top 50 Singles Of 2012: 10-6

10. Foxy Shazam - Holy Touch



Carrying on the best of glam rock, this is the kind of over-the-top, stirringly produced single that doesn't come around much these days.

9. Icona Pop - I Love It



They came out of what seemed like nowhere to deliver one of the strongest musical statements of the year. A blistering assault.

8. Jedward - Waterline



Pure cheese, in the absolute best way possible. This is Jedward as good as they will ever be, with a song that you may want to dislike, but won't be able to.

7. Scissor Sisters - Let's Have A Kiki



In an off-year for the Sisters, it's amazing that they were still able to deliver a career highlight. Silly fun, yes, but sometimes that's just what you need.

6. Matt Cardle - It's Only Love (7th Heaven Radio Edit) 



I would've laughed hysterically if anyone told me a Matt Cardle song would have been on my list, especially in the top ten. But, this is a Matt Cardle remix, and it's perfect. The Delays song they never recorded.

Track-by-Track: Foxy Shazam - The Church Of Rock & Roll

Hallelujah! Seriously, there isn't a better band in America than Foxy Shazam, and this album proves it. Their self-titled 2010 release was my favorite of that year. I can see this making it to the top for 2012, and it's only January. The band have often stated that they want to be the biggest group in the world. They certainly sound like it. While not as thundering and boisterous as their older stuff, the guys have tightened their ear for melody and infused this album with a different kind of bombast. Layered, Queen-like vocals battle with tight arrangements that keep Church speeding along, even in its slower moments. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know that my favorite band in the world is The Ark. Now that they've called it quits, I might just have some new rock and roll heroes...
I apologize in advance for my rambling in this review. I'm so excited about this album, and it's difficult for me to put that in words. If there's any bad thing I could say about it, it would be that it's too short. One thing's for sure... BUY. THIS. ALBUM. The guys need it. They need to be a huge as their music deserves.

1. Welcome To The Church Of Rock & Roll - A deliriously over-the-top, epic album opener. At just over two minutes, it doesn't stick around for long, but it fills every second with more hooks and craziness than most entire albums. 10/10

2. I Like It - Before hearing the album, I probably would have given this buzz single a nine. Now, I'm just obsessed with it. The gargantuan riffs and hilariously in your face lyrics fit perfectly alongside the rest of the tracks. It's definitely one of the rawer songs, especially when it comes to the production. 10/10

3. Holy Touch - This is the moment when I realized that the album was going to be very special. It's the perfect meld of pop and rock, like The Darkness and The Ark and Queen all thrown together in a blender. Yet it's still undeniably Foxy Shazam. The high note is unearthly, and the spoken bit at the end is actually very charming (unlike Cher Lloyd's irritating "ad-lib" at the end of her track Want You Back last year). 10/10

4. Last Chance At Love - Brilliant. This is power pop the way it used to be written before melody took a back seat to beat and production. It's remeniscent of The Darkness's I Believe In A Thing Called Love, but it takes itself more seriously and is much better for it. Should be a single. 10/10

5. Forever Together - The first ballad on the album, and it's an utter charmer. Eric's vocals and lyrics are simple but incredibly effective. It's more stripped down than I've ever heard the band, but becomes a nice singalong as the song moves forward. 10/10

6. (It's) Too Late Baby - And the amazing songs keep coming! This is a definite standout, alternating between quietly churning verses and a huge, massive, almighty chorus. Seriously, you won't believe it. It sounds like all the best 80's rock groups thrown together. Just a wall-of-sound... an army of vocals that make this one of their finest anthems. 10/10

7. I Wanna Be Yours - It's hard to live up to the last track, which is probably why this suffers in comparison. It's great (every song on this album is great), but of everything, it feels the most like filler. It's got a rootsy, stomping glam sound to it. 9/10

8. Wasted Feelings - The verses are sung completely in falsetto, which is a first for the band (I think). But it's the chorus that makes this truly amazing. It's a rousing, rollicking sing-along. The bits at the end are hilariously cool. You'll have to listen to see what I mean. 10/10

9. The Temple - Easily the heaviest track on the album. It's also probably my least favorite, but that's down more to my personal taste than the actual quality of the song. I love the melody and the guitars, but there's just something about it that doesn't quite live up to the (very high) standard of the rest of the album (for me). 8/10

10. The Streets - Awesome, anthemic chorus. The verses are a little crazy, but once it hits that chorus -- especially the ad-libbed end bit -- it's pure bliss. 10/10

11. Freedom - This is the best ballad I've ever heard from the band. It's incredibly simple and very powerful because of that. To me, this sounds like a long lost classic hit single from the 70's. Much of the album could be described this way, but this is one of the biggest highlights. 10/10

Album Grade: 9.7/10

Foxy Shazam - Holy Touch

"Kick down the door and hold me"

Foxy Shazam is back! I'll give a full review of their very good album next week when it's officially released. After all, I'm still digesting it. In some ways, it's very different than their last one. Yet it's also a natural progression. They've gone further into classic rock territory, while still managing to up the bombast (I mean, check out (It's) Too Late Baby. That's like bombast personified). The band have been nice enough to share one of the album's best tracks a few days early. Holy Touch is the kind of ultra-hooky, melodic punch of rock that this country's been missing for years. Now that the Ark's retired, I'm ready to hand over the title of best rock band to Foxy Shazam. They've really got it all. And Eric Nally is pretty much a superstar.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the album here if you want it a few days early (I did). Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Foxy Shazam - Welcome To The Church Of Rock And Roll

"There's nothing new to listen to"

The new Foxy Shazam album is out in two weeks and I couldn't be more excited. Their last release was such an incredible highlight for me. From the sound of it, the new one's going to be a continuation of that--a little heavier on the ballads, but moving even more strongly into theatrical Queen style. This is the opening track and, at just over two minutes, it's a blistering salvo that promises over-the-top things to come. It sounds a little like The Darkness, which makes sense because Justin Hawkins has had a hand in the album. The difference is that Eric (lead singer of Foxy Shazam) easily eclipses Justin vocally. Plus, Foxy have a more diverse sound, drawing on piano and brass. The only complaint I have about this is that I wish it was longer. I really, really hope this album does well. They've moved to a new label and I desperately want them to be as big as they should.

Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll by foxyshazam

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Foxy Shazam - Teenage Demon Baby

"It's funny how this old dead piece of land makes us feel so alive"

Another Friday, another Halloween song. Today it's a b-side from Foxy Shazam's most recent album, a deliriously fun track with a great title. But it's definitely more than the title. Foxy have managed to combine elements of Meat Loaf, Rocky Horror Picture Show and power pop in one tight, uber-catchy pop song. And it didn't even make the album! While the lyrics are not necessarily tailored to Halloween, the energy and hook make it very appropriate for October. What a great song to get a party started! Of course, that could be said about most Foxy tracks...



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Foxy Shazam - I Like It

"Ain't it sexy?"

I'm SO excited! Not only do Foxy Shazam have a new single out (for free!), but they'll be releasing a new album in January! I like I Like It a lot, and may even grow to love it, but I do have my (very slight) qualms. The sound is perched between their old stuff (which isn't to my taste) and their most recent release (which was my #1 album of last year). So, my excitement is tempered just a little by a worry that they've moved away from that clean, melodic production of the last album. Only time will tell. And that's it for the griping, because honestly, the more I listen to this, the more I love it. It's silly, sure, but that hook is undeniable. If we're comparing them to Queen (which they are quite similar to), this is more along the lines of Sheer Heart Attack or Tie Your Mother Down then, let's say, We Are The Champions or Don't Stop Me Now. It's got a strong Darkness influence, which makes sense because Justin Hawkins has been involved (a very good thing). God, now that I know this album is coming out, I don't think I'll be able to wait another three months to hear it!

Edit: I've already upgraded my "like." I officially love this song.

Foxy Shazam - I Like It by johnoprea

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Download the single for free here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Foxy Shazam - Drain You

"It is now my duty to completely drain you"

SPIN Magazine has done something kind of cool and released a free album of indie bands covering Nirvana tunes. This alone wouldn't interest me all that much, as I've never really been more than a casual Nirvana fan, but one of the coverers (?) is none other than Foxy Shazam. I don't think I'm anticipating anything more in the music world than Foxy's next album (whenever that'll be... hopefully soon). And while I prefer them doing original (and more melodic) stuff, this is a nice little treat while we're waiting for their comeback. The song they've covered is Drain You, which isn't one of my favorites, but they've foxy'ed it up and... well, I'm a bit of a completist so this is something I am definitely keeping (even though it's not exactly my cup of tea). I would have loved to hear them tackle Teen Spirit, with Eric in full voice on the chorus.

Foxy Shazam - Drain You by holyemre

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Get the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 20 Albums of 2010: 2-1

2. Robyn - Body Talk Pts I-III



This was a tough one. If I were to choose my favorite tracks from the vast amount released during this project, I could easily cull together an album of the year. But I’ve decided to judge the project as a whole. Yes, there were a (very) few clunkers, but my god this woman is amazing. If Lady Gaga was he savior of pop music in 2009, then the title certainly goes to Robyn this year. The sheer amount of creativity and quality across these twenty-one tracks is something to marvel at. She is the female pop star of the year, without a doubt.

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1. Foxy Shazam - Foxy Shazam



My musical discovery of the year. Following the trends of this countdown, they were a band that, previous to this, released material that wasn't something I would listen to. But with this album, they chose to go big. And there was no bigger album this year than Foxy Shazam. Taking elements from epic artists like Queen and Meat Loaf and filtering them through Eric Nally’s otherworldly howl of a voice, the band managed to create an album that does it all. Music like this is timeless. It’s melodic, blistering, bombastic and dramatic. Funny, sad, blissful. In short, it absolutely blew me away. They sound ready to conquer the world, and with any luck they will. The world deserves them.

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Top 50 Singles of 2010: 5-1

5. Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light



The group’s longest, most experimental song to date. The final minute or so, with that drug-induced, otherworldly build, is the best moment in pop this year.

4. Tinashé - Zambezi



A somewhat unknown afro-beat pop anthem that utterly captured me this year. From the coming-of-age lyrics to the bright, soaring chorus, this is a staggering achievement.

3. Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over



Quite simply, it conquered the world this year. I can’t think of a more galvanizing song. Rattling drums battle it out with divine, gutsy vocals to create what can only be described as a masterpiece.

2. Robyn - Dancing On My Own



I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to return with something even better than With Every Heartbeat. This is everything I love about Robyn distilled into one song. Soaring, heartbreaking, cool, unforgettable.

1. Foxy Shazam - Oh Lord



From the moment I heard this, it was hard to imagine any song besting it this year. This was the arrival of something breathtakingly, awesomely new. They threw everything I love about music into a blender and Oh Lord was born.

Top 50 Singles of 2010: 15-11

15. The Wanted - All Time Low



Just when I thought boy bands were dead, along comes this song. From the strings to the beat to the cathartic chorus, this was a massive hit for the second half of the year.

14. The Hoosiers - Unlikely Hero



Never had the success it deserved, but it represented everything that I love about the Hoosiers‘ new sound in one song. I don’t know how anybody resists that chorus.

13. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream



California Gurls started to turn me around, but Teenage Dream was the song that cemented Katy Perry as an artist worth listening to. This will be a classic for some time, I think.

12. Mark Ronson - Bang Bang Bang



The craziest confection of this past Summer, I immediately fell for this pop/electro/rap hybrid and couldn‘t stop playing it. The MNDR bits are the best.

11. Foxy Shazam - Unstoppable



Not since the days of Queen have we seen a stadium anthem this huge. It was played during the Superbowl this year. With any luck, that’s a harbinger of the level of fame this underrated band will achieve.

Foxy Shazam - Heaven On Their Minds

"I've been your right hand man all along"

Foxy Shazam, one of my favorite bands of 2010, have released their cover of this Jesus Christ Superstar classic on the 2nd volume of the Christmas-themed Gift Wrapped compilation. It's one of the best, most dramatic songs from the musical and fits the band perfectly. As expected, they totally rock out on this, bringing an urgent punch to the show tune. Eric Nally sounds great (honestly, when doesn't he?) -- and this is not an easy song to sing, either. They're moving further into Queen territory with every release. This is, of course, a very good thing. On another note, what is it with my favorite singers and this musical? First Ola Salo from the Ark plays the titular character in Sweden and now this. I guess I can't blame them. It's a pretty epic soundtrack.

Foxy Shazam - Heaven On Their Minds by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Music Video: Foxy Shazam - Unstoppable

I've been waiting for this one for awhile now. In addition to their enormous, stadium-filling sound, Foxy Shazam are such a visual band. Their last video was an instant classic. This isn't quite as good, but it's super creative and pulled off very well. They use the type of puppeteering that Scissor Sisters used for their She's My Man video, but to much greater effect. I never liked that Scissor Sisters video. This benefits from Eric Nally's undeniable charisma (despite opening with one of the most...uh... interesting screen shots of the year) and the support of an incredible song. I love it when the whole band joins in the end. My only complaint is that the visuals don't match the song all that well. Still, I have high hopes that this will put the band on more people's radars, right where they should be.


Unstoppable

Foxy Shazam | MySpace Music Videos

Foxy Shazam - I'm In Love With A Boy (+ extra performances)

Our love makes too much noise"

In lieu of a normal post today, I'm going to highlight a link to my favorite new discovery of 2010. As you all know, I've been obsessing over Foxy Shazam ever since their album landed in my hands in mid-April. The band recently sat down with SPIN for an acapella/acoustic performance of three songs, including a new one (the very promising sounding I'm In Love With A Boy). The strange performance highlights the band's undeniable freewheeling spirit as well as Eric's amazing vocals. I think they should be the biggest band on the planet, and I'm more than willing to do my (admittedly small) part in getting them there. Please watch the performance (I love the "dinner plans" breakdown in the middle of Evil Thoughts), and if for some reason you haven't seen the video for the epic Oh Lord, I've embedded it below. They're shooting a new music video soon, hopefully for the next single.

Watch the SPIN performance



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Meat Loaf - California Isn't Big Enough (Hey There Girl)

"I know you're a queen... I'm just a pawn"

This has one of the most audacious, did-he-just-say-that hooks that I've ever heard in a mainstream rock track. I won't spoil it for you. You'll just have to listen. It was also written by the Darkness' Justin Hawkins and (coincidentally) Foxy Shazam's Eric Nally. This explains not only the line but also the fact that it's the best song on Meat Loaf's new album. I mean, is there a bigger dream team than those three? They were made to be together, basically. Meat Loaf's pretty much a rock god to me, though album-wise he's far past his prime. The new one's better than the last, but I prefer to return to his prime period of the 70's to early 90's. Still, it's always nice to hear something new. More importantly, this track has an amazing hook. It probably fits a band like the Darkness more than Meat Loaf (mostly because I don't want to hear him going on about what he goes on about here), but it's a punch of adrenaline either way. And, unlike some of the album's clunkers, it's restrained to under five minutes.

Meat Loaf - California Isn't Big Enough (Hey There Girl) by milproj2

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Track-by-Track: Foxy Shazam

Perched somewhere between Queen, Meat Loaf, the Ark and the Darkness, Cincinatti's outrageous Foxy Shazam may have just released the best album of the year so far. By going poppier with their sound this time around, they've uncovered a gift for melody that suits the searing vocals perfectly. It's easy to get lost in huge production like this, but thankfully the songs are there. Amazing songs. Anthems.

1. Intro/Bombs Away - One of the strangest opening lines ever (There sure are a lot of dogs out there this evening. Perhaps they could assist me... in a song!) lets you know exactly what kind of bizarre album you're in for, then launches into a blistering opener assisted by Eric's powerful, wailing vocals. You're either gonna love it or hate it. I love it. 10/10

2. Wanna-be Angel - Mixing the orchestral pomp of Sparks with the fury of Freddie Mercury's vocals, this is the first "hit" of the album. Totally over the top, totally catchy. The cheeky verses are the best. 10/10

3. Count Me Out - Of all the songs, the chorus of this one reminds me most of the Darkness (in the best of ways). It's definitely a strong, fiery chorus... one of the strongest on the album. It continues the perfect stream of songs that open the album 10/10

4. Bye Bye Symphony - Slowing things down a bit, though it becomes pretty aggressive towards the end. I love the lyrics here and especially Eric's oh-so-serious delivery of them. Very soulful, too. Like everything on the album, it's on a grand scale. 10/10

5. Unstoppable - This sounds like a lost glam hit from the 70's. It's got that "We Are The Champions" vibe to it, though it's a massive uptempo number. Suitable for stadiums, for sure. The chorus hits the stratosphere. Few people could hit notes like this. 10/10

6. Second Floor - Another total anthem with a sky-high chorus. I just can't get over the vocals. It's practically inhuman. The lyrics are nice here, too, and seem to reinforce what the band's all about. All about wanting to exist outside of needless record label control. 10/10

7. Oh Lord - My favorite track on the album, and the first one I heard. In fact, it may be the best song I've heard all year. It's huge, majestic, epic... what other words can I use? Perfection. 10/10

8. Connect - A poppier track with an excellent gospel-infused chorus. Gospel and beat-boxing shouldn't mix so well, but the band's natural swagger makes it work. 10/10

9. The Only Way To My Heart... - The only song where the band succumb to artiness at the expense of melody. It just doesn't compare to the other tracks. That being said, the other tracks are very strong. Easily the weakest link, though, and preferably replaced by one of the bonus tracks. 7/10

10. Killin' It - And we're back to brilliance. The chorus is huge, the verses are great, and I love the background whispers. 9/10

11. Evil Thoughts - The one true ballad of the album, and a very soulful one at that. I think the band have even better ballads in them in the future, but this is still quite nice and a great closer to a brilliant album. 9/10

Album Grade: 9.5/10

Foxy Shazam - Oh Lord

"There is always a wrong to your right"

One hell of a tune for you today! I've got Paul to thank for this one, who recommended the band to me. He knows my tastes well, because this is a slam dunk. Foxy Shazam are epic with a capital "E". Imagine Freddie Mercury reincarnated and fronting an anthemic rock/punk/glam/pop/soul hybrid with energy to spare. It's like the sun exploding... I can't think of any better way to describe the fire in the vocals. Lead singer Eric Sean Nally has one of the most astonishing voices I've heard in quite some time. One listen to the brilliant Oh Lord and I was hooked. Foxy Shazam are certainly different, and that's increasingly harder to find these days. Their music is stuffed to the brim with a melding of genres and sounds, but unlike many "arty" bands, they haven't forgotten the hooks. Choruses are uniformly gigantic throughout the album, and this track is a perfect example of that. You'll be singing it for days. The part where the guitar chugs in after the end of the first chorus is perfection. Expect a full album review soon, because it's a winner. And check out the brilliant, campy video here. I want this band to be huge.

Foxy Shazam - Oh Lord by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.