Album Preview: “Phox” by Phox

Album
Phox

Artist
Phox

Release date
Wednesday, June 24th

Label
Partisan Records

Purchase link
Buy album

Preview
Phox is perhaps one of Wisconsin’s most popular musical acts right now. Mainly from Baraboo, the six-piece band brings a solid indie pop sound that can easily be enjoyed by just about anyone.

Their big breakthrough was in 2013 during the release of their album Friendship, when they had a string of successful gigs and positive reviews by national press. They toured with Blitzen Trapper, and opened for The Lumineers in London. They also scored spots playing at some of the nation’s most popular music festivals, SXSW and Lollapalooza.

The new album, self-titled Phox, is up on NPR’s First Listen to stream. It was recorded at Bon Iver-frontman Justin Vernon’s home studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The album shows off a sound that only an eclectic six-piece band can pull off: Layered soundscapes, songs that build, interesting instruments like the clarinet and trumpet, lots of “oooh”s and “aaah”s, whistles, hand clapping, and lead singer Monica’s breathy, airy voice.

Murfie Preview
Kayla: Phox has a lot going for them! They’re a band of talented people who work well as a cohesive unit, while letting every person shine. They’ve got a layered, interesting indie pop sound with never a dull moment. Monica’s voice compliments the music so well—it beautifully blends with it, and is not overpowering like some vocals are. I think that’s important for a band who wants you to hear the depth of their sound, the overlapping musical textures that are like landscapes. The notes she sings really travel—single syllables in a word can move up and down like butterfly wings. Their music can be mellow at times, but not depressing like some mellow music can be. Mixed with the mellow moments on the new self-titled album Phox, you’ll hear more catchy songs like “Slow Motion”, “1936”, and “Evil”. Phox is from Baraboo, Wisconsin, and they are in Madison often. I’ve met a few members and they are really nice. They have two shows celebrating their album release at High Noon Saloon in Madison, and both are sold out! Darn!! :-)

Some teasers from Phox

Phox – Slow Motion / Blue and White on Audiotree Live

Phox – 1936 on Audiotree Live

Pre-order your copy of Phox today on our pre-order page! Each CD comes with unlimited streaming and downloads in mp3, aac, FLAC and ALAC. 

Sounds Like Wisconsin: Hometown Acts Both Big and Small

Volcano Choir
Repave

We’ve already shown our love for Wisconsin native Justin Vernon for his work on Bon Iver, but Repave shows an entirely different side of him: this album makes him look like he’s just a guy having fun. Collaborating with members of another local favorite band, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Vernon and company have created a record with a fresh rock sound, killer lyrics, and most importantly of all, the ability to stick in your head.

Repave is in many ways all about power. The album sounds absolutely fantastic, and powerfully so—truly unique guitar lines effortlessly combine with a deep and incredibly clear sound. Even amidst all that power, Vernon never allows his voice to be outshone. He sings with all the guts of a power ballad while maintaining his trademark dark mood. Unlike Vernon’s work with Bon Iver, however, this album has potential for real stadium sound.

Don’t miss tracks: “Alaskans”, “Comrade”

Violent Femmes
Permanent Record: The Very Best of the Violent Femmes

Some of Wisconsin’s most famous musical natives released this essential collection of their all-time greatest tracks in 2005. This album is really mood music, but not in the way you’d usually picture that phrase. The mood here is teenage angst and ecstasy, bouncing off the walls and sometimes falling to the ground. It’s also just really, really wanting to party. This album captures that scream-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs vibe that was so essential to the band’s success.

This album makes a good call in focusing largely on tracks from self-titled debut album Violent Femmes, an incredibly fun collection of songs that was nearly impossible to follow. These songs are instantly and insanely catchy, but not without the music clout to back it up. There’s a fantastic minimalism going on here—acoustics, a single drum—but it’s far from boring. These Milwaukee natives know how to keep a party going, wherever that party may be.

Don’t miss tracks: “Blister in the Sun”, “Kiss Off”

PHOX
Friendship

Don’t be intimidated by the impossibly long tracklist here. Those 19 tracks look deceptively long. About half the songs, however, are in the 20-second range, creating an album that actually comes to feel like the perfect length.

Part of that perfect length feeling comes from the fact that this is just a really nice listen. Friendship has an eclectic, indie-pop sound that blends seamlessly from track to track. The seven-piece PHOX, originally Baraboo natives, have created a unique combination of longer songs and shorter, transitional musical arrangements that tie together into a tight album that’s fun all the way through.

Instrumentally, the album focuses on crystal-clear vocals and awesome instrumentation, featuring horns, banjos, synths and the whole nine yards. This band is certainly up-and-coming—time to get on the bandwagon!

Don’t miss tracks: “Clubs and Spades”, “Shrinking Violets”

Interview with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin [Podcast]

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is a band worth checking out! Their at-home recordings fit well with their indie pop sound. Since 2005, they’ve put out a solid discography that’s received rave reviews, and even earned themselves a spot in the soundtrack of the popular show The O.C. This phone interview was recorded while the band was driving in their van, and covers everything you’re wondering about this Missouri-based group.

 

Who: Philip Dickey; interviewed by Kayla Liederbach
What: Phil talks about the band, their recordings, Madison, and some other fun stuff
Where: Murfie HQ via skype; Madison, WI
When: Friday, October 11th, 2013
How: Recorded by Kayla Liederbach
File: mp3 version

Find music by SSLYBY in our shop.

Check out more of the band at sslyby.com.

Into RSS? Follow our podcast feed via http://blog.murfie.com/category/podcasts/feed.

Interview with Paper Bird [Podcast]

It’s easy to get hooked on the sweet harmonies sung by Paper Bird, and it’s fun to flow with the rich instrumental layers in their music. With their “joyful blend of folk, roots, and Americana“, this seven-piece band from Colorado is quickly rising to the top. Here’s an interesting interview with the band’s percussionist, Mark Anderson.

Who: Mark Anderson; interviewed by Kayla Liederbach
What: Mark discusses Paper Bird, the new album Rooms, Colorado, Red Rocks, guilty pleasure pop music, Justin Bieber getting boo’ed, and more
Where: Murfie HQ, Madison, WI
When: Friday, May 31st, 2013
How: Recorded by Kayla Liederbach
File: mp3 version

Find music by Paper Bird in our shop.

Check out more of the band at paperbirdband.com.

Into RSS? Follow our podcast feed via http://blog.murfie.com/category/podcasts/feed.

Check out some of Mark’s favorite new bands:

Patrick Dethlefs
Bad Weather California
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
Mike Clark and the Sugar Sounds

Daniel and the Lion: Death Head (side A)

ALBUM REVIEWS
Daniel and the Lion: Death Head (side A)

Daniel and the Lion celebrated the release of their new album, Death Head (side A), on Wednesday, May 16th, at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. The indie pop band consists of quirky duo Jimmie Linville and Daniel Pingrey: Daniel and the Lion podcast

Death Head (side A) holds true to DATL’s minimal structure. It lets smart compositions, Linville’s voice, and a few key instruments, including acoustic guitar, piano, and drums, come together perfectly. “Death Head” is my favorite track. It has a rich, layered sound and infectious melodies that make you want to move. You’ll want to sing along to this album, especially with the song “Need You” (“I don’t want to say-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh that I need you…”).

The album also goes in a lot of directions, from DATL’s classic indie pop and folk to a meandering, Americana-esque track, “Flash Flood.” The final track, “Good Reason,” is even reminiscent of Bon Iver or some Coldplay, as it shows off Linville’s vocal range and a sound that masters the art of being both full and empty.

DATL is a fun band to follow, as they frequently update their website and blog with stories, videos, and pictures. Keep a lookout because Death Head (side A) will be released soon and Side B will be released later this year!