Welcome to our new weekly record review column (the fact that we did not have one till now suprises us more than you, trust us).
The man in charge is Matthew (Starr) who is uniquely qualified to keep this job by: a. loving music (particularly: Radiohead, The Smiths, Bjork, David Bowie and Wilco), b. fervently visiting shows, c. being in a band himself (the Known Unknowns), d. being able to identify instruments like xylophone in songs, AND most importantly taking the initiative and writing to Svetlana (sight unseen) offering his writing services, and passing the gruelling audition process (and it was gruelling). He also plays kickball and loves trivia, and we are currently in search of finding undercover tasks he can undertake while pursuing these interests.

The concept is simple: every week a record of note from last week will be reviewed, the system is based on Star(r)s, and at the end of the day lets you know what is in store for you now.

so, without further a do, we hand this over to Matthew, who this week tackles every blogger’s favorite 2006 band: Voxtrot

Rating system
0 stars - Complete and utter garbage
1 star - Best just not to ever press play, save your ears for another day
2 stars - Not completely atrocious, but one you’ll probably forget about as soon as it’s over
3 stars - Good, but not great, likely with some excellent songs and others you’ll skip right through
4 stars - Damn good album, one you’ll definitely want to enjoy again and again
5 stars - Instant Classic

Voxtrot by Voxtrot on Playlouder.
3.stars

song list:
1. Introduction
2. Kid Gloves
3. Ghost
4. Steven
5. Firecracker
6. Brother In Conflict
7. Easy
8. The Future Pt. 1
9. Every Day
10. Real Live Version
11. Blood Red Blood

2006 was quite a year for Voxtrot. They emerged seemingly out of nowhere, and were instantly hailed as the “next big thing.” Their EPs Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives and Your Biggest Fan were praised by critics and fans alike, and they were already being included in the pantheon of Austin, TX indie-rock greats, right alongside bands like Spoon and Explosions in the Sky. All of this was before Voxtrot ever released a full-length album, and now that they have, it appears that we might have to hold off anointing them, at least for the time being.

Their self-titled debut album, Voxtrot, is not a bad album by any means, but it fails to live up to the massive amount of hype leading up to its release. Songs like “Soft & Warm” and “Fast Asleep” from the EPs hinted at greatness, and though Voxtrot has several brilliant moments, they are fewer and farther between than they had been in the past. The album opens on a high note with the light, breezy “Introduction,” pairing Belle & Sebastian-style guitars, melodies and a string section with pounding drums, perfectly encapsulating Voxtrot’s signature sound. “Kid Gloves,” the album’s second track, kicks off with “ahhs” over a xylophone and a driving rhythm and builds to an excellent chorus filled with soaring guitars. It’s got single potential written all over it and is one of finest songs that Voxtrot has crafted in its young career.

Unfortunately, after these first two tracks, the album begins to falter. “Ghost” and “Steven” are fine pop songs, but leave no lasting impression upon the listener. I’ve listened to the album upwards of ten times now and still couldn’t sing a lick of either song. Much of the rest of the album follows this same path, it’s full of fun, yet forgettable songs that just don’t compel the listener to devote his/her full attention to them. On an album of just eleven songs, none of which is over five minutes, the listener’s mind shouldn’t begin to drift away at any point, yet that’s exactly what happens to me almost every time I attempt to listen to Voxtrot, especially in the album’s latter half.

There are, however, two other moments of brilliance that keep me optimistic for the future of this band. Lead single, “Blood Red Blood,” oddly placed as the album’s final track, reels the listener back in from any ennui they might have slipped into over the previous songs. It is the album’s most dynamic track, shifting from a brooding intro to a bouncy pop song, complete with both a string and horn section, to an anthemic ending that leaves you begging for more. Voxtrot’s brightest gem, however, comes when the band takes its biggest risk. “Firecracker” immediately stands out because it sounds like nothing else on the album. The first minute of the song sounds like it’s straight out of fellow Austin-ites Spoon’s song-book, with singer Ramesh Srivastava singing over bass and drums while a sparse guitar riff comes in and out of the mix. It then explodes into an amazing chorus that dares you not to sing along and continues to build and build until it reaches a stunning climax and all tension is released.

Voxtrot took a bold step by not including any material from their EPs on their full-length debut, and the album suffered because of it. But it is because of this that I am definitely not writing off this band. They have essentially released two full albums worth of material in the last year and a half, and had they taken the best tracks from the three EPs and Voxtrot, it would’ve made one hell of a debut. Instead we’re left to sift through the mediocre tracks to find the diamonds hidden among them. Give them two years to write and record all new material and I’m sure their second album will be spectacular. We haven’t heard the last of Voxtrot, mark my words.

sample “Kid Gloves” here

Out this week

R. Kelly - Double Up
Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
Satellite Party - Ultra Payloaded
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet - Se Dice Bisonte, No Buffalo
Robert Pollard - Crickets: The Best of the Fading Captain Series

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