NationStates Jolt Archive

iHola! ¿Qué onda, guapos?

Right.
Oxes is a band.
They're name is wrong, they sound wrong, they play on huge black boxes (apparently) with wireless guitars, they're so dadblasted upfucking wrong, they're genius! Now, I'm a contrary, pernickety, and fickle appreciator of music, slagging everything in the name of indie fanboy realness (yes, I know that's not a word), but when I decide something is good, it really really actually is. I can't be arsed frankly to go into why I'm qualified to make sweeping judgements about what constitutes good and bad rock, but let's just say that a decade devouring the music press, 8 years of being in bands and writing and 5 years of record reviewery (also not a word) kinda puts me in the position to say stuff like: "this new Fartmuncher LP is amazing, listen to the counterpoints, listen to the spunk", et cetera ad nauseum, and I'll be right. Trust me.
http://www.pulsetc.com/image/111302/oxes.jpg
But hear me out on this one. These guys are the most startlingly cool thing I've heard all year. No hyperbole! (Yeah, I know that's not a.. oh, hang on..) I could (and am very tempted) to get all music hack on yr collective asses and describe them in highfalutin' metaphor, but I won't. I'll let you, the good people of the inside of my computer (hi there), make up your own minds.

Basic info: they're instrumental, they're heavy, they're so complex they take the math rock thing into algebra rock, they're not po-faced or pompous, they're ear-to-ear grinning fun.

Get mp3s here!: http://www.epitonic.com/artists/oxes.html And here!: http://www.monitorrecords.com/mp3.html
http://diaporamastnt.free.fr/galerie1/OXES%20-%20RENNES%20-%20STNT.jpg
Enjoy! ;)

Damn right: I have had the privelege of doing sound for these chaps twice, and each time they have been startlingly good.

they play on huge black boxes (apparently)

This I can also confirm.

I could (and am very tempted) to get all music hack on yr collective asses and describe them in highfalutin' metaphor, but I won't.

I dare you, nay, double-dare you to use the term 'sonic cathedral'.

I dare you, nay, double-dare you to use the term 'sonic cathedral'.
:D
I prefer 'sonic abbatoir'..

Anyway, you lucky monkey, how'd you end up doing their sound? I assume you're with a venue, not the band's soundman..

Anyway, you lucky monkey, how'd you end up doing their sound? I assume you're with a venue, not the band's soundman..

I'm just a freelancer* in my home town, and was getting semi-regular work from the venues/promotors that were putting them on.



* for the term 'freelancer' read 'underworked, underpaid and frequently underwhelmed'.

...but let's just say that a decade devouring the music press, 8 years of being in bands and writing and 5 years of record reviewery (also not a word) kinda puts me in the position to say stuff like: "this new Fartmuncher LP is amazing, listen to the counterpoints, listen to the spunk", et cetera ad nauseum, and I'll be right. Trust me.
I pretty much stopped reading after there. I'm tired of people who think they're qualified to tell me what I will or won't enjoy. I don't even like entertainment reviews. It's all just a scam for people who can't get real jobs...so they can get paid to tell other people what to like.

Regardless, after the first line (about the fact that Oxes is a band, and they play on black boxes), I decided I may listen to them. I will tell you, with potential like being named "Oxes," and playing on black boxes, I shall be thoroughly depressed if their lyrics are not cat-n-t3h-hat-ish. Don't disappoint me.

I will tell you, with potential like being named "Oxes," and playing on black boxes, I shall be thoroughly depressed if their lyrics are not cat-n-t3h-hat-ish. Don't disappoint me.

Instrumental band: sorry.

Instrumental band: sorry.
Looks like El Porro loses.

Theres no BASS! They'd be as good as you say they are if they actually had BASS. As it is they sound like pansies playacting at being macho men.

But I'm a MELVINS fan, so I'm a little biased.

Actually I REALLY love the structure of their songs. Way cool. But no bass equals no diggity.

Actually I REALLY love the structure of their songs. Way cool. But no bass equals no diggity.

I'm actually with you on this one: I'm not a big fan on bands that don't have bass-players or something to take their place due to some (misguided) sense of avant-gardeism. If I go to see a band I do actually want to hear something below 160Hz other than the kick drum: guitars and stuff are nice, but somewhat emasculated without a good slab of low frequency to drive them.

Having said that, the Oxes do carry it off a lot better than a lot of other similar bass-less bands.

I'm actually with you on this one: I'm not a big fan on bands that don't have bass-players or something to take their place due to some (misguided) sense of avant-gardeism. If I go to see a band I do actually want to hear something below 160Hz other than the kick drum: guitars and stuff are nice, but somewhat emasculated without a good slab of low frequency to drive them.

Having said that, the Oxes do carry it off a lot better than a lot of other similar bass-less bands.

Agreed.

I pretty much stopped reading after there. I'm tired of people who think they're qualified to tell me what I will or won't enjoy. I don't even like entertainment reviews. It's all just a scam for people who can't get real jobs...so they can get paid to tell other people what to like.
Question:
You are ill, you need medicine, what do you do? Do you listen to your doctor (who is qualified to prescribe the stuff), or do you just take what you feel like?

Answer in your own time.

Theres no BASS! They'd be as good as you say they are if they actually had BASS.

Yeah, I know. That was my first impression - being a bass player myself I love a bit of dirty low end - but I think it would alter their sound too much. I think the dynamics they have going on are stunning in their own right, and perhaps a bass would ruin that. Or maybe not, if it was way down in the mix (but that's the PUSSY way out!)..

(bump)

Que pasa gato! Lo he escuchado.....

not really into rock but I had a listen anyway as I'm always up for broadening the old musical horizons

Not really feeling it though I'm afraid. Maybe it was just that one track but was a bit boring, didn't really get going

Would have to listen to more to give a valid opinion though