Art rock and indie pop intersect on Nashville duo Fox Grin‘s forthcoming album, Dusk. It is the band’s third full-length, slated for release on Friday, March 22, and marks another strong, shimmering record for the band, full of smoky vocals and catchy guitar riffs.


Dusk opens with “Awakening”, a minute-long synth track that serves as an appetizer for the rest of the album. It glistens, despite the occasional electronic element peppered throughout, and there is an almost telestic quality to the track.

And the rest of the record certainly does not disappoint. “In White” is catchy, with poppy melodies and smooth vocals, and it is somehow light and airy without losing its alt-rock features. There’s a gritty, fuzzy guitar solo in the bridge that holds it all down, grounding the track to prevent it from floating away entirely. Tracks like “Shangri-La” maintain that deft, light tone, and frontman Thomas Chapman’s cool, husky vocals are almost reminiscent of The Shins.

There is another instrumental reprieve with “Follow The Rabbit” halfway through the record, with what sounds like a choir in the background. It is, once again, shimmering and ethereal, and it provides an excellent palate cleanser before the duo moves into the next half of the album.

From there, the band doubles down, though tracks like “Slow Motion” are a little heavier than before. Its guitar is more substantial, but vocals still feel weightless, and the guitar lick is melt-in-your-mouth sticky. Later, “Skull Candy” centers more on the drums, which push the track into a faster tempo and feel like a steady heartbeat throughout.

“Eclipse” is hazier than ever, though, and there’s a thick layer of what feels like sonic smoke muffling the music. It builds in intensity toward the chorus and bridge, but instead of catharsis, the release is melancholy and slow as Chapman croons, “Nothing really matters.”

The album ends on two more instrumental tracks, both sharply contrasting: “The Hunt” is grungier and grittier, which doesn’t line up with the gauzy second half of the record, but the simplicity of piano and synth on “Rain” closes out the record with levity.

Screen Shot 2019-03-21 at 8.20.29 AM-1.jpgOn Dusk, Fox Grin seems to have carved out a specific corner of the music scene for itself, and it works. The duo is confident and polished, blending art rock and indie pop effortlessly to create unique, ethereal tracks that are somehow catchy and light and intense all at once without overwhelming listeners. Dusk is slated for release Friday, March 22, so check out the band’s website for more information and to listen.

Originally published on Indientry on March 21, 2019.