Review Summary: A hyperactive blend of Post-hardcore, classical, surf-rock and pop with a front man that screams for your attention
Foxy Shazam are an energetic, crazy, untamed post-hardcore/pop band.
The debut album, The Flamingo Trigger, is still one of the most frenetic albums I have heard to this date. The album begins with French Passion of Animality and from the first few seconds you get to hear the band displaying exactly what they are about and how they go about creating their blend of post-hardcore/pop. The most noticeable thing about this band is Eric Sean Nally's vocals, his frenzied screams mixed with fast paced clean vocal creates a dual personality within the bands vocal melodies and as such extreme contrast achieved. This, added with the bands blend of genres such as surf-rock and classical creates dissonance that can be appreciated by all.
The band plays with such passion that you immediately become immersed within each song. Songs like 'Brains In Vegas" and "Across The Golden Field" display the bands heavier side. The contrast between song sections is so sporadic that it just works. From nice, calm piano melodies to hectic, intense screaming the songs flow seamlessly without any thought or reason. Every song on this album encases the bands essence, a perfect example is "--------------". The song contains 1 and half minutes of a relaxing piano progression before a short pause, the first time I heard this i was expecting another random breakdown but being Foxy Shazam nothing is conventional, The melody continues with band screaming in pain and agony over the top. Its moments like this that made this album appeal to me.
The albums greatest point however is reached very early on. During the band's only single from this album "No Don't Shoot" you are lead through the, as to be expect, screaming and pop style song structure until you reach what to me was the most unmethodical bridge in a song I have ever heard. Eric, in spoken word, tells of an experience that occurred to during a bathroom visit. Now if your anything like me you will just sit there dumb founded by what you are hearing and just as you begin to accept this as actually happening, EEE UUUUU AAAAHHHH A BIGGITY BIGGITY BOOO!, the band blasts out a breakdown with Eric screaming with such force you can hear the spit coming out.
This album appealed to me through its absolute crazyness and blend of genres. Its a shame their follow up albums went to crap.
