Ox - Burnout

By: Andrew Horan

Ox
Burnout

(Weewerk)

SOUNDS LIKE: Bare-bones alt-country that evokes a sense of loneliness.

A sense of nostalgia fills the latest release from Ox, and with good reason: Burnout is the last recording the band made in their hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia before relocating to Sudbury, Ontario to open a studio.

Musically, they don't stray too far from the alt-country/folk of their previous outings but they also bring psychedelic flourishes to the EP's seven tracks that work surprisingly well with the bare bones sound they usually achieve. Songs like "Unknown Legend" work especially well, the combination of gently brushed drums and strings creating an absolutely gorgeous piece of music.

While the album's title track and lead-off does follow a somewhat cliched sad-sack country trope, frontman Mark Browning's world-weary vocals save the song from being yet another hurting number. He sounds as though he's genuinely burnt out. Besides, any band that can write a song about listening to REO Speedwagon and listening to music on eight-tracks without trying to sound ironic deserves your attention.


Video: "Unknown Legend" by Ox

^{Posted: February 8, 2010}