Channeling the classic rock ‘n’ roll essences of The Rolling Stones, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and The Velvet Underground, Foxygen’s duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado delivers fitful ballads that would make you think the Astoria, Queens self-proclaimed glam band consumed a blender concoction filled with ingredients from these ’60s rock pioneers. Foxygen’s Take the Kids Off Broadway, though only seven tracks, bubbles with odes to an earlier era.
The single “Make It Known” embraces the organ-fueled pop/rock of bands like The Animals and ? & the Mysterians, with nods to some Lou Reed-style crooning. The track’s spasmodic lyrics work in harmony with the rest of the song’s shifting pace. Melodies morph from France’s unintelligibly warbling verses, building up to an anthemic chorus with the chanting of “Why would I want something / Why would I need someone but I’m / Willing to change, willing to change,” before the track winds down with some more pre-chorus riffage and trumpeting that adds a bit of grandeur to the song’s last minute finale.
Citing The Brian Jonestown Massacre as a major influence during their high school years, France and Rado have also chosen a portmanteau for their band name. As the neo-psychedelic BJM name derives from Rolling Stones founder/guitarist Brian Jones and the massive cult suicide at Jonestown, Guyana, Foxygen’s pairing of a sexy slang term and the most vital element for human life epitomizes the band’s kooky demeanor and knack for fusing together various styles and influences in favor of a sound that is dated, yet modern at the same time.
Foxygen has found a home on Jagjaguwar, the indie rock label based out of Bloomington, Indiana that has boasted the likes of Dinosaur Jr., Bon Iver, and Sharon Van Etten. The duo’s debut studio album, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released July 24 and since then Foxygen has been gigging it up along the east and west coasts, including appearances in Arizona and Nevada. The band is currently anticipating work on their next album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, set to release January 22, 2013.