 Scapegoat
Wax
"Swax" CD
Hollywood
Records
Genres: rock, alternative, hip-hop
Hollywood Records
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521
Jan 13 - 19 2003 |
Sometimes
albums don't have to be technically astounding or musically important
to be "good." Sometimes a disc can be good just because it's
loads of fun. As is the case with Scapegoat Wax's very
danceable Swax album.
The twelve tracks on Swax are party-friendly, enjoyable
tunes that blend hip-hop beats and attitude with rock instrumentation.
Occasionally there's rapping, although Scapegoat often sings
instead. As such, even those who strongly dislike rap music will
likely find themselves enjoying themselves, mainly because the music
relies more on the guitars than the rapping and the beats.
Unlike many albums of the same vein, Swax is fun throughout
- it doesn't just lean on one or two notable singles. Tunes like
"Lost Cause" and "Freeway" are funky,
guitar-driven tunes that will get you dancing in no time. Other
tracks, like "Crawlin" and "Space To Share" are
more emotional and downbeat - they serve to ground the album, adding a
bit of a break from the more fast-paced, energetic songs. And then
there are the perfect party tunes, like "Bloodsweet" and
"Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)," the former of which uses a very
effective "House of the Rising Sun" sample (or at least
that's what it sounds like.)
Scapegoat Wax have achieved the perfect balance - their
tunes are catchy and fun enough to become mainstream hits, though
their style is still fresh and creative. This is an excellent
combination in a world where radio-friendliness and musical integrity
don't exactly go hand in hand. Here's to them becoming the next big
thing!
85%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
12 songs + computer music video, distributed everywhere, released 2002] |
