Mixtapes & Cellmates - Rox
After bitter feuds left Mixtapes & Cellmates on the verge of breaking up at the end of touring their eponymous debut album three years ago, its members worked on various side projects before fortunately reconciling their differences to produce this; a fresh lease of life for the band.
Whilst not one to encourage disagreements amongst friends, if this is what it took to produce this dynamic effort, then the fall out was arguably worthwhile. The band are now expanded with an additional member - drummer Viktor Kallgren – who adds the fifth dimension needed. Together, they have gone back to ‘square one’ and produced an album which is as skilled as it is enthusiastic.
Rox is an appropriate title for this ‘comeback’ album in that it, whilst accomplished, doesn’t take itself too seriously. Each has varying quantities of unadulterated and emotive rock (without irony), European dance music, power ballad synths (with minimal chords) and hyperbolic pop lyrics shared between the band’s male and female vocalists. It is an album which rids itself of the shackles of constraint and is all the better for it.
All ten tracks charge towards your ears and leave little opportunity for them to rest, aside from the obligatory slow song, which comes in the form of ‘Sunday’ and, it has to be said, is overly twee.
Rox has a lot more going on than may initially be apparent, and will no doubt divide those who give it a chance, but this is its biggest achievement. It provides you with the sound of bands you feel proud to have in your music collection whilst simultaneously tapping into those ‘guilty pleasures’ that may only become known to your friends whilst intoxicated in a downbeat nightclub.
This album is fun. Don’t be scared.
Whilst not one to encourage disagreements amongst friends, if this is what it took to produce this dynamic effort, then the fall out was arguably worthwhile. The band are now expanded with an additional member - drummer Viktor Kallgren – who adds the fifth dimension needed. Together, they have gone back to ‘square one’ and produced an album which is as skilled as it is enthusiastic.
Rox is an appropriate title for this ‘comeback’ album in that it, whilst accomplished, doesn’t take itself too seriously. Each has varying quantities of unadulterated and emotive rock (without irony), European dance music, power ballad synths (with minimal chords) and hyperbolic pop lyrics shared between the band’s male and female vocalists. It is an album which rids itself of the shackles of constraint and is all the better for it.
All ten tracks charge towards your ears and leave little opportunity for them to rest, aside from the obligatory slow song, which comes in the form of ‘Sunday’ and, it has to be said, is overly twee.
Rox has a lot more going on than may initially be apparent, and will no doubt divide those who give it a chance, but this is its biggest achievement. It provides you with the sound of bands you feel proud to have in your music collection whilst simultaneously tapping into those ‘guilty pleasures’ that may only become known to your friends whilst intoxicated in a downbeat nightclub.
This album is fun. Don’t be scared.
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