Rockin' Our Turntable: Foxy Shazam

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 13, 2010 4:30PM

Foxy Shazam’s last album was titled Introducing even though it was actually their second disc, and their new one is simply self-titled, something bands often so to denote a debut. As far as we can tell the reasoning behind this has to do with the band’s steady transformation from a screamo band with glam tendencies to a full blown glam band that occasionally allows a bit of it’s early screamo tendencies into its bombastic music. In some ways the new album reminds us of The Darkness’ debut since both groups share an affinity for Queen, but while the Darkness used that source to filter their love of ‘80s metal Foxy Shazam instead opts to mix early ‘70s glam with late ’70 grit to attain their current sound.

Foxy Shazam is a polished beast of an album. Singer Eric Nally has finally learned to focus his powerful pipes into an often purposefully eccentric warble with a surprisingly elastic range. The rest of the band falls in step behind his lead shooting cannons of burly chords amidst swirling clouds of glitter and grime. It’s super catchy stuff, the sort of thing only a band that was striving for the bacchanalian corners of stardom that refuse to take themselves seriously can attain. This is rock and/or roll powered by a total lack of inhibition whose only self-consciousness lies within dressing smartly and putting on a wild show.

If you’re looking for serious musical statements then you should probably steer clear of Foxy Shazam, but if you’re looking for a seriously good time with some great music then allow yourself to drop into their world for a spell.