Don't let any reviews describing
Oxford Collapse as merely another New York dance-rock band fool you. Yes, you can move your feet to
A Good Ground, they're from Brooklyn, and they take their cues from post-punk bands like
Wire and
Mission of Burma. But
Oxford Collapse are a little smarter and sometimes, when they bring the tempo down, gracious. With a yap similar to
stellastarr*'s Shawn Christensen, guitarist/vocalist Mike Pace leads a band that's on the verge of moving out of indie rock obscurity. Everything here is immediately involving and fresh-sounding, including the jumpy "Cracks in the Causeway" and the beckoning singalong "The Boys Go Home." Further into the record the band sheds its giddy side and reveals soft, mature songwriting that not only broadens its scope, but makes
Oxford Collapse even better than expected. Even when you can't decipher what the heck Pace is saying,
Oxford Collapse are melodic and sharp and never settle for anything less. ~ Kenyon Hopkin