ALBUM REVIEW: Foxy Shazam goes glam all the way
Change is no stranger to Foxy Shazam.
With their beginnings as an avant-garde, post-hardcore band with The Flamingo Trigger all the way to their last release, the self-titled album with a soulful glam rock blast, they have changed up what they do a fair amount.
So with the release of their fourth album, "The Church Of Rock and Roll," the thought of change should already be on many people’s minds.
Foxy has taken glam rock by the reigns and totally accepted the genre into their music to the point that it sounds like 2003 again and “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” just came out — fitting, seeing how The Darkness’ vocalist Justin Hawkins is the producer for this album.
The album starts out strong with the titular song, going hard for the “church” theme with a choir of backing vocals and organ intact.
Not skipping a beat, the album proceeds into the first single, “I Like It,” which is equally explosive, catchy and ridiculous as vocalist Eric Sean Nally screams on about how much he loves those fat-bottomed girls.
After a couple tracks, the changes in Foxy’s style become more apparent, as they have slowed down considerably. There seems to be much less action from keyboardist Sky White, and especially horn-player Alex Nauth, as the music is very dedicated to the retro-glam rock sound.
With jams like “Last Chance At Love” (which definitely has a “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” Pat Benitar-feel), “I Wanna Be Yours,” “Freedom” and the album’s ballad, “Together Forever,” this is easily the least in-your-face Foxy Shazam album.
That isn’t to say Foxy cannot do what Foxy does best, aside from the aforementioned album beginnings.
Songs like “Holy Touch,” “The Streets,” with its swanky style and “Wasted Feelings” with its punch-to-the-face of a chorus, all show that Eric and gang can still bring the party.
There should be no doubt that a Foxy Shazam concert will still be as riotous as they are known for.
The album boils down to how much glam-rock the listener can take. The middle of the album especially lays on the influences heavily, channeling the band’s inner Freddie Mercury and Queen.
While some may enjoy the retro-rock feeling, others may miss the anthemic, bombastic music of previous releases. Even moments like the chorus of “Wasted Feelings” showcase a guitar riff that is undeniably glam-rock in tone.
While "The Church of Rock and Roll" exhibits how brilliantly Foxy Shazam can execute a sound when they put their minds to it, their glam-rock tone can grate at times.
The retro sound unmistakably diminishes the intensity and tone Foxy Shazam was known for, and at the end of the album, it can come off sounding a little too tame and safe for the band.
While they do their new sound well, the vibrant direction sometimes can’t fill the lack of explosive anthems for which the band is known.
Genre: Glam Rock 3.5 out of 5 stars
