Oxford Collapse - A Good Ground

Genre indie-rock Publisher Kanine Records External Links Official Site Kanine Records

Oxford Collapse are another guitar band from Brooklyn, not exactly a rarity in 2005. But on their latest album, A Good Ground, they display a unique style of delivery and a characteristic sound that distinguishes them from their peers.

The name Oxford Collapse conjures up visions of a white haired don suffering a heart attack, or more generally perhaps, of the system of Western thought hashed out over late nights of tea in that famed British city coming to an end. Oxford Collapse's songs sound like an attempt rebuild after a fall; they are unadorned with studio magic. A small room, maybe a practice space, with a few microphones is all it would have taken to make this recording, or so they want the listener to think (it may have been harder to accomplish than it sounds). The effect is an intimacy that ends up balancing the bands' boisterous, balls-out sound, with plenty of overdriven guitar and wild drumming.

Singer Michael Pace is not about to let the refined manner of Oxford come between him and a good scream. His delivery on songs like "Empty Fields" consists more of yelping than singing, which precludes in-depth understanding of the lyrics. He can get by on delivery when it's this insistent and urgent most of the time, though it can grate when subtlety is what one desires. But even this roughness produces moments of beauty, like "Cracks In The Causeway" and "Last American Virgin," which showcase the band's way with simple, short songs. On "Proofreading," the vocal harmonies are forced through sheer willpower.

Overall, this combination of unorthodox singing and spartan, lo-fi production can be quite refreshing, like a cold beer on a hot day. Coming from a burg filled to the brim with guitar bands trying to make it just like they are, Oxford Collapse have found a way to make an impression on A Good Ground.