Jersey-based Chris Fox & the Beasts have, at the very least, earned their ampersand. (If you’re displeased by grammatical minutia, jump down to paragraph three.)
The ampersand — for those of you not obsessed with learning things like what the dot of the lowercase i is (a tittle—you’re welcome) — is the “and sign”: &, or, in italics, &. It’s interchangeable in informal writing with the plus sign, interchangeable in band name formatting with the word and, or — if you hate yourself — N’. The ampersand is a sign of a desire for whimsy, maybe, or a signifier of one’s folkiness. (It’s not Mumford and Sons, after all.) It can be a choice based on vibes or a preference on aesthetics. Whatever the intention, Chris & Co. meet the criteria, if you ask me.
“Trouble”, released in May, is the song equivalent of a pair of black jeans. It goes with pretty much anything at all. If you’re having a shit day—me, for example, half an hour late to my day job and irritated by my boss and his fifth-house woes—there’s a bit of angst to cling to. If you’re feeling cheery on your morning commute, it’s an up-tempo tune with quick chord changes, perfect for bobbing your head on the train or sipping coffee.
The production here is shoegazey, but not overly busy; it’s well-balanced and fun. Fans of Wilco, Jackson Browne, ampersands, and Sam Fender (sans synthesizer) will enjoy this new release greatly.
Take a listen to “Trouble” below.
Written by Willow Stonebeck
