Shuggie - Foxygen
from the album We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic (2013)
Over the past few days, I have listened to the song Shuggie by Foxygen several dozen times. I dig this tune and just can't stop playing it. My lady friend even dropped in with a "What is that song you keep playing?" inquiry.
I deeply respect musicians who have a command of tone. With Foxygen, it is a group with command of vibe. This band has a fascinating ability to perfectly capture a vibe and then pivot to another and another, staying locked together as a unit the entire way. Bands with this ability are far and too few between. This only comes with after long hours of playing as a unit.
Foxygen matches its mastery of vibe with superior songwriting capabilities. The chord structures, the arrangements, and the lyrics intertwine to create a music that lures you inside and then holds you with an intriguing blend of nuance and texture.
Another thing I dig about this group is their honesty. When asked by an interviewer what it was like playing at the famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, singer Sam France responded: "The Whiskey sucks ... After you finish, they throw your gear on the street. They charge you a hundred dollars, and make you sell a bunch of tickets." Tell it like it is.
Shruggie grabs me with its opening synthesizer introduction followed by the captivating lead vocal. Singer Sam France employs a Marlene Dietrich meets Jonathan Richman style to the first verses that I simply dig. The song then hits its first pivot, a descending vocal and melody line over a strengthening beat reminding you of a movie scene where the actor has arms and legs flailing in from of a spinning black-and-white funnel as they travel back in time.
This is followed a few bars later by the second pivot to a early '70's Godspell meets Hair vibe that includes the lyric "Aah if you believe in yourself, you can free your soul". Nice stuff. Then there are other pivots, including a short blast of funk and a "Da-Da Da-Di Da-Da" sing-along line.
Hard to believe that all this great sound can fit cohesively in a 3 minute 22 second song. Great stuff.
Click Here to watch the music video.
Over the past few days, I have listened to the song Shuggie by Foxygen several dozen times. I dig this tune and just can't stop playing it. My lady friend even dropped in with a "What is that song you keep playing?" inquiry.
I deeply respect musicians who have a command of tone. With Foxygen, it is a group with command of vibe. This band has a fascinating ability to perfectly capture a vibe and then pivot to another and another, staying locked together as a unit the entire way. Bands with this ability are far and too few between. This only comes with after long hours of playing as a unit.
Foxygen matches its mastery of vibe with superior songwriting capabilities. The chord structures, the arrangements, and the lyrics intertwine to create a music that lures you inside and then holds you with an intriguing blend of nuance and texture.
Another thing I dig about this group is their honesty. When asked by an interviewer what it was like playing at the famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, singer Sam France responded: "The Whiskey sucks ... After you finish, they throw your gear on the street. They charge you a hundred dollars, and make you sell a bunch of tickets." Tell it like it is.
Shruggie grabs me with its opening synthesizer introduction followed by the captivating lead vocal. Singer Sam France employs a Marlene Dietrich meets Jonathan Richman style to the first verses that I simply dig. The song then hits its first pivot, a descending vocal and melody line over a strengthening beat reminding you of a movie scene where the actor has arms and legs flailing in from of a spinning black-and-white funnel as they travel back in time.
This is followed a few bars later by the second pivot to a early '70's Godspell meets Hair vibe that includes the lyric "Aah if you believe in yourself, you can free your soul". Nice stuff. Then there are other pivots, including a short blast of funk and a "Da-Da Da-Di Da-Da" sing-along line.
Hard to believe that all this great sound can fit cohesively in a 3 minute 22 second song. Great stuff.
Click Here to watch the music video.
Comments
Post a Comment