They sound like a juvenile's wet dream, bursting with lovesickness and adrenaline. And, like most wet dreams, Zox leaves the listener in a puddle of confusion, embarrassment and relief.
Zox re-released their sophomore album "The Wait" when they signed with SideOneDummy Records in June. The band tries to add a pinch of ska to their pop rock, and even though it is necessary to add baking soda to chocolate chip cookies, they needn't complicate things.
"Carolyn" is a misleading track because it is redolent of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, whereas the rest of the album reeks of generic rock n' roll, similar to what Weezer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers surrendered to.
The embarrassment begins to set in when tracks like "Big Fish" trick you into bobbing your head along with a slew of teenage girls that most likely need to wait for a ride after the concert.
"Big fish little fish don't swim back to me/circle my ship and slip back into the sea...If catching you is easy then I'm gonna have to let you go," sings Eli Miller (guitarist).
It's not certain, but Miller may in fact be using a metaphor in order to express his preferred method of courtship. How clever.
Shockingly, Miller uses another metaphor in "Satellite," even though one would have thought him to be rendered helpless after dreaming up the first one.
"You're my sun and I'm your satellite/have me in your gravity and holding me so tight," he sings.
Considering that their re-released album has been purchased over 10,000 times, the majority of listeners must be satisfied with their straightforward and entertaining sound. In other words, who cares about lyricism?
Their sound may be shadowed by youthfulness, but in songs like "Can't Look Down" Spencer Swain (vocalist) hints at adulthood with his violin. Herein lies the relief - at least the violin is not a keyboard, which means Mr. Swain has made the world of pop music an ounce classier.
Zox will be playing at the Molson Canal Concert Series at Gateway Park in North Tonawanda on Sept. 2..
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
