It's hard. It's hard to make music without someone saying "sounds like." That's why we leave it to those willing to hunger and travel. The Boxing Lesson, from Austin, Texas, starts off Wild Streaks and Windy Days with what I hear as a nod to the Cure (think One More Time or The Fight from KISS ME! KISS ME! KISS ME! or any number of Fascination Street tracks) but it is in no way the only influence they wear on their sleeve.
The Boxing Lesson have survived hunger and travel, recorded two EPs and one previous LP, Songs in the Key of C. Wild Streaks and Windy Days is their latest. At over an hour long, it is hard not to wonder if some material should have been cut for another EP. Some tracks tend to linger while some just don't seem to belong. Overall, the bulk of the songs hold up to any critics scrutiny. They are well written, well played songs that deserve to be recorded.
Yes, there is an immediate recognition of The Boxing Lesson's influences but it goes deeper. Wild Streaks and Windy Days gives us a wide variety of sounds and personalities - almost too many - like a really well made mix tape. There are times when you recognize Kraftwerk, The New Pornographers, Thin Lizzy, The Von Bondies, David Gilmore/Pink Floyd, Super Furry Animals - all in the span of three tracks.
The success of The Boxing Lesson is the ability to mix these sounds to the point of becoming something that is their own. When I hear the Boxing Lesson I know who I am listening to. It's hard. And they pull it off.
What will sell me on The Boxing Lesson is seeing them live. I can tell the talent is there. It's obvious. But I crave the raw goods. No disrespect to Grammy nominated producer Tim Gerron but something tells me that The Boxing Lesson I hear on Wild Streaks and Windy Days is a little too packaged.
To help you get an idea of The Boxing Lesson's Wild Streaks and Windy Days I have three tracks for you:
Track 01: Dark Side of the Moog
Track 03: Lower
Track 08: Freedom
Here's a video of said album opener, Dark Side of the Moog:
The Boxing Lesson - Dark Side of the Moog from Eric Power on Vimeo.
I had the opportunity to ask the band a few questions. What follows is the email exchange:
You just finished playing San Diego and Los Angeles. Was this the first time the new line-up had played there together? How did it go for everyone?
JAYLINN: It was the first time we had played in San Diego. I used to live there at the turn of the century (I love saying that) and to come back and play for my friends was pretty cool. We have played in Los Angeles before. It's always a ball in LA. I could really go on and on about how different it is to tour there than it is to live there. But I will spare you - and me....
I haven't heard your previous EPs. Would you say this LP was a natural evolution, the next step so-to-speak? Or did you consciously try to get away from where you were, not only geographically but also musically?
Most of the songs are over five minutes. This is not a three minutes of hate or short pop song album. Do you stretch it out even more when you're playing them live?
PAUL: On certain songs we do. One time we played the song Wild Streaks & Windy Days for a full 30 minute set.
Your release says it was inspired by the Austin scene and radio emissions from space. Who are your favorite local Austin bands? We don't have to get into the space thing.
JAYLINN: All time favorites of course are Spoon and Explosions in the Sky. More recently, Ghostland Observatory has hit and those guys are a model of DIY music success – from the behind the scenes to the lighting to the production to the awesome live shows. These guys seem to have it down.
I hear so many styles and musical nods. Is it safe to assume you're all over the board with your music collection?
PAUL: Yeah, we are all over the board in a lot of aspects of our lives.
JAYLINN: I have been known to go to auctions and by every single album they are selling. I sift through it when I get home. Once I got 500 records for $5. And there were about 30 jewels. I kept them all, though….
Without reverting to the press release what would you like us, as a listener, to know about The Boxing Lesson?
JAYLINN: We make the music that we want to hear.
Paul Waclawsky: vocals, guitars, triwave
Jaylinn Davidson: vocals, synths
Jake Mitchell: drums, samples (currently serving a controversial Federal Prison term that had people thinking he had been convicted under the Patriot Act. link and link)
Wild Streaks & Windy Days is a self-released album.
OTHER TBL LINKS:
www.myspace.com/
www.youtube.com/
www.sonicbids.com/
www.imeem.com/theboxinglesson
Thanks to Ryan at The Loyalty Firm
