they've been talked about a tiny bit on here, but man the new EP just continues to kick my ass the more and more i listen to it. i thought the first one was pretty damn good, and it managed to sneak into my #25 slot last year, but this new one trumps it.

the fact that the new Belle & Sebastian gets so much praise while this EP is better than the entire new B&S record (only reason i'm comparing the two is they remind me of B&S some, along w/ The Smiths obviously).

but yeah... more people need to hear this band, so:

their first EP, Raised By Wolves, from 2005:

hxxp://download.yousendit.com/5C862FDB12FE2A34

fave songs: missing pieces, start of something, long haul (i pretty love every song on both EP's tho)

and their newest EP, Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives that comes out officially April 4th:

hxxp://download.yousendit.com/00D6DFFC5674FA68

fave songs: title cut, rise up in the dirt, soft & warm

i'm sure it won't "wow" some people, but god i'm a sucker for great melodies and Voxtrot have them in spades.
they were pretty sweet live a few weeks ago as well.

according to the band when i chatted w/ Ramesh & their guitarist, they're hoping to tour the rest of the summer, and hopefully get picked up by a label based on these 2 EP's (surprised they already aren't signeda actually), and if/when they get signed, start on a full length this fall.

Thanks for this Solace...you have made me a believer (although Voxtrot are far from a hard sell). I am dumbfounded that this band has yet to be picked up, because the potential hinted at by these two EPs is remarkable. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for these guys.

I first heard about them when doing a search for Fall of Troy. It lead me to a SPIN magazine review and the side had a sidebar for a Voxtrot page. At first I was skeptical because they described it as 'the strokes with a bit of dance' but I downloaded it anyways and I'm in love with them since then.

I saw them a few weeks ago. Ramesh was running late from Chicago and he didn't show up until 1:45am. To kill time, the rest of the band essentially had a jam session with some of the Happy Bullets and did covers of "Just Like Heaven," "Where is My Mind?", "Laid," and "Blister in the Sun." The crowd was into it and when Ramesh showed up, they played two songs and called it a night (the bar had since closed). Awesome show. They were willing to play essentially with their pants down, but they went through it anyway.

This band is going to be quite popular.

I'll also throw the Figurines out there. There's no way this won't be the indie band of 2006.

I love the new Voxtrot EP. Love it! Especially "Rise Up In The Dirt".

Regarding the Figurines, i like'em but i remember posting a YSI of their album and some posters saying it was the worst thing they heard all year, which i find quite baffling.

this band reminds me of belle & sebastian, as well, but they're not that good. they're still a little raw. i've liked everything i've heard of them, even played them out the other night. i think they're playing empty bottle in april. i'll probably hit that up.

Hey, this is good. Where are they from?

Austin, Texas.

Yeah, these guys are good. Sub Pop or Merge or someone needs to sign them so they can get an album out.

yeah, those are 2 labels i was thinking of as well. Matador would be alright too, but the B&S comparisons would be even greater then.

im thinking that Voxtrot would be a great acquisition for Isaac Brock's new record label, Glacial Pace. i mean, that might deter some of the B&S comparisons, plus they would benefit from having the aura of Isaac Brock backing whatever they do. and Brock's label would benefit, because these guys are great and so far his only signing is Mason Jennings (yeah, i dunno who he is either) then again, this would probably create alot of Wolf Parade comparisons...hmm...maybe this isnt such a good idea after all

just don't let Isaac try and produce any of their album

as for Mason Jennings, he's a singer/songwriter that lives here in the Twin Cities (originally from Pittsburgh i believe). some of his stuff is alright, his drawl he sings with sounds really fake to me though, but he is a really solid lyricist. surprised he just got signed last year, as he was more poised for being signed 3-4 years ago.

i finally gave in and listened to this (thanks to solace)

and it's EXCELLENT!! light, poppy and catchy.

boring, tired criticisms will fly: "typical indie b.s." blah, blah...


well, fuck y'all, this is great stuff.

i listened pretty closely to both EP's and put together a combined tracklist that i feel flows fairly well:

1. Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives (3:53)
2. Voxtrot - Fast Asleep (2:51)
3. Voxtrot - Four Long Days (2:37)
4. Voxtrot - The Start of Something (4:31)
5. Voxtrot - Raised by Wolves (4:40)
6. Voxtrot - Soft & Warm (4:06)
7. Voxtrot - Missing Pieces (5:17)
8. Voxtrot - Rise Up in the Dirt (4:08)
9. Voxtrot - Long Haul (4:09)
10. Voxtrot - Wrecking Force (4:48)

yeah, i'm listening to the first EP now, and it's also great.

this band is SERIOUSLY talented.



"Rise Up in the Dirt" is fucking awesome!!

meh.

typical.

like this band.

i've already pre-empted this comment, saddam.

you're telling me this song isn't great?:

"Rise Up in the Dirt" - Voxtrot

hxxp://s62.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0GDO0N9TRAB6M0KBJ68XJM353P

it's got a Pulp-like chorus that grabs you and doesn't let go.

he's obsessed w/ some poutier/darker sounding NYC band, leave him be

so wait, it sounds like pulp because he insists on pounding the same note into the ground?

sorry, i fail to see what's so intriguing about this band. every song i've heard sounds desperately striving, but he hasn't the voice and the band lacks the chops.

"lacks the chops"

i play guitar, bass, and dabble in drums, they're more than proficient musicians.

what are you expecting? some sick arpeggio runs and some 7/4 signature songs?

for what they are, a simple indie pop band, they do just fine. post a thread about your precious band Soft and we'll see what people think in comparison (you made the comparison to Voxtrot, not me, i don't hear it myself really).

Voxtrot are all about their vocal melodies, which imo are some of the most infectious i've heard in years, along with that enjoy their guitar tones and subtle string/horn arrangements as well.

i'm going to have to side with lbj on this one, not so hot imo. they have a few great songs (mother, sister, daughters..) and some good ideas but i feel like when the music is not mediocore they are cramming in some pointless bridge that ruins the rest of the song. nonetheless i'm sure they will do just fine for themselves.

it's all about Rise Up In The Dirt & Soft & Warm on the new EP imo... although Mothers is great too.

what can i say, i'm a sucker for well done pop w/ fantastic melodies, always have been. Four Long Days totally sounds like Beulah, and i thought Beulah were one of the better bands of the last 5+ years (especially live).

this band should not be praised too ecstatically, they won't hold up to that...and i agree that the guy's voice is a bit ordinary and unremarkable....but solace is right, they've got an IMPRESSIVE knack for pop melodies.

Pitchfork's review of the 2 EPs

7.8 for RBW and 8.2 for M,S,D & W, which sounds just about right to me.

i can dig that, and i'm glad they gave Mothers a higher score, cuz it def deserves it

Great band.

However,Some of the tracks on the first EP should be shorter, and the production is rather poor.
The last track on the second EP is one of the best I've heard all year.

Soft & Warm? SO good. i can't decide if that or Rise Up In The Dirt is my fave on the new one.

the production isn't that POOR imo, but it's def better on the second EP. will be interesting to see what they do after they get signed and get to record in a decent studio.

To quote the Pitchfork review quoting Srivastava's blog:
"[I]t's okay for somebody to be into both Throbbing Gristle and Belle and Sebastian, and I'm pretty sure that's a good thing."

Hmmm, I hear the one, but not the other. At first I was going to say it wasn't a bad choice leaving the Gristle out, but maybe that would have given a more bittersweet taste (a la JMC or Black Tamborine) instead of being such a sweet confection. Now, it is pretty tasty, sure--the bridge on "Raised By Wolves" keeps calling me back--but I'm not yet convinced they're worth the hype. They're still fun, though; they were playing a bill and I showed up too late, and I regretted it, but I'm not racing out to find them.

I'm listening to the one Voxtrot EP I have (Raised by Wolves) right now. I'll be honest, I can absolutely see the appeal of this band, but not to the extent that the interest in them warrants. I mean, it's good, clearly, but I'm not convinced that if I came across it while trolling through myspace or something (not that I do that) it would stop me in my tracks.

check out the new one, it's better, more developed/mature.

Eh I think Raised By Wolves should have gotten a little higher, at least an 8.

*nod*

I'm new around here and missed this. Would anyone mind re-YSI'ing it? I'd really appreciate if someone would, this sounds like something I'd really like and I'd like to check it out. Thanks.

i think both of their eps are pretty fantastic myself. actually received both the cd's in the mail today, took so long to get to me that i'd forgotten i had ordered them. this is the kind of stuff i love regardless though, my hard drive is absolutely full of what i suppose is mostly considered mediocre indie pop, but i adore the stuff to no end.

supposedly they have signed w/ Capitol...

would be pretty surprised if so, but great for them.

i just saw this band an hour ago. they were very good live. irving opened. they were also very good.

I thought they were... not necessarily samey, but just, it didn't get any better or more interesting as the night went on. The singer was hard to take seriously in those pants. Kinda enjoyed it, nothing to blowyour mind. Decided I didn't need to buy the EP(s).

Irving was v much an LA package band. Yawn.

The guy from Speaker Speaker was very friendly, I enjoyed them.

i actually liked irving a lot, maybe even more than voxtrot. i'm listening to their album now and it's not really as good as them live, though. i also like that schtick.

Saw a 40-minute set from them last month and I did find them samey. But I really liked them at first, they just lost me over time because of that. That's just why the EP's are great. The big question will be whether a full-length album from them will be able to hold my attention.

Covers
http://blownbythewind.blogspot.com/2006/05...s-and-news.html
[MP3]: Voxtrot :: Heaven (Talking Heads cover)
[MP3]: Voxtrot :: Love Vigilantes (New Order cover)
[MP3]: Voxtrot :: Sunlight Bathed, The Golden Glow (Felt cover)
[MP3]: Voxtrot :: Raised By Wolves / You Can Hide Your Love Forever (Comet Gain cover)
[MP3]: Voxtrot :: Shayla (Blondie cover)

Awesome. Thanks. Just discovered this great band thanks to simakos.

I have been hooked on this band ever since I heard the start of something and just ordered the two EP's the other day. I can not wait until they arrive.

Could somebody re-up the two EP's? I'm really eager to see what the hubbub is about.

yeah, me too.

Raleigh,

here you go - both eps:

thanks!

i knew it was time to finally check them out when my 15 year old brother was telling me about them yesterday.

Thanks, suckeredyou. Nice avatar.