It took me a while to know what to make of this. In most cases, that’ll be the kiss of death for a band with me. I know one shouldn’t write off a band immediately, but such is the nature of instant music gratification. I always promised myself that I’d never be one of those people. Then the internet made so much music available that it became impossible to give everything a fair chance. This blog hasn’t exactly helped matters either. I’ve got two giant stacks of CDs sitting on my desk, even with the amount I listen to. The ability to listen to albums over and over is something lost on me at this point.
Jesus H. Foxx are not the kind of band that do instant gratification. Their music is difficult, at times slight, a little too comfortable with not getting excitable. Yet it has something. Something that made me come back to the album a week later and play it again. Something that has made me go over a few more times since. I still can’t put my finger on what it is that’s working for me, but it does. I can’t say that I love the album as a whole, but it has the ability to worm into one’s head.
Some songs manage to stand right out though, like I’m Half the Man You Were. It’s gentle, but gradually builds, vocals that jump between band members playing off of each other throughout. There’s not all that much it on first listen, but repeated plays open up further complexities. It almost has the vibe of a rootsy Americana record, most obviously in the voice, but it’s far more than the sum of it’s parts. Give it a listen or three, and it’ll be impossible to resist.
Matter is out now on the mighty Song, by Toad Records.
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