Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Freddie Was A Boxer - FWAB

7/8/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Freddie Was A Boxer

​FWAB
self-released; 2016

3.9 out of 5

By J Simpson
​
Louisville, KY is a complicated place. It's about 2500 miles from the ocean, yet for some reason many of its bands harbor a fascination with the sea and ocean-going vessels. It's countrified, as you might expect from the state that gave us bluegrass (although technically that was created in Indiana) and Jack Daniels, yet it boasts an impressive list of highly technical math rock bands and some of the most conceptual indie/folk of the last 100 years.

​Louisville's a complicated place - the perfect place to tackle complicated subject matter from.Being a man in the 21st century is also complicated. Traditional masculine roles have all but disappeared, all while many masculine traits have fallen under laser-beam scrutiny thanks to the sins of the patriarchy. You're not likely to hear anyone boasting "I'm a man!" too loudly in a lot of places, and the ones that are tend to be neck-beard sporting wanna-be Alpha Male MRAs living in their parents’ basement.

For those of us identifying as a male/man/masculine, it can be tough to take pride in who you are and what you do. We have the instinct to protect those around us, while often being unable to do so, or the urge to stand loud and proud, which others often interpret as trying to put them down.

It's a tough situation, with no easy answers, making for an interesting underpinning for FWAB, by Louisville's Freddie Was A Boxer - a concept album roughly rotating around the life of a fictional boxer, the titular Freddie.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter that Freddie was a boxer, or even a man for that matter. It's just a loose theme for the band to explore some of these themes of being a human in the 21st century, through the lens of looking at one particular human being.

Freddie Was A Boxer's music is appropriately complex to match this nuanced subject matter. Flying, soaring electric guitar solos match ringing acoustic chords, like a traditional folk band getting together with a powerful, polished post-rock band. The events are given an authentic country feel with some gorgeous fiddle, a particularly fine touch, all of which is given a breakneck momentum via precise polyrhythms.

Although it's quite individualistic and unique, Freddie Was A Boxer is in line with many of Louisville's most influential bands, particularly Slint, Rodan, Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Rachel's. Intimate chamber music is amped up with muscular guitars, but never gets too beefcake or metal, via deft guitar harmonics and literary lyrics.

It's like being a man, in the 21st century. It's not enough to be tough and strong (both of which Freddie Was A Boxer is, in spades), but you need to be smart and sensitive, and have good taste, which FWAB is, as well.

A staggering, stunning debut from an ambitious outfit. Highly recommended!
Become A Fan
Tweet
1 Comment
Shadwick Wilde
7/9/2016 12:26:34 pm

Great band, great EP. Jack Daniels is from Tennessee, man.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact