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Fox Trotsky

Take Back the Streets (2003)
Ska and Reggae

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 2nd 2004

Like many punk acts of the last ten years, Fox Trotsky has an interesting musical style and is strong on their social commentary base, but seems like they're still developing both.

Fueling an old school Suicide Machines feel with a crackrocksteady approach (minus the overbearing Satanism), FT is heavy on the hyper-tempo ska upstrokes and rambled vocals. These vocals, however, are sub par at best. Often out of tune and off key, they could definitely use some smoothing out, but how to do it without overusing studio wizardry is going to call for a smart producing / mixing job on the next release. The backup screaming growls balance the overall vocal front well though, and to give them credit, this is only a demo EP, and it's chock full of catchy goodness.

"There Will Never Be Peace" should have you singing along by the second listen, even if its ideas are explained a little vague, especially at one point where the band picks out seemingly random events to elaborate on the title. The song "Apnea" definitely mixes a more emotional side of the band while still keeping the tempo intact and the political undertones shining through the surface, with its own hook line of "why did you have to go away on a day like today?"

While Take Back the Streets is nothing special, the window into the future it provides is. If Fox Trotsky smartens and organizes their ideas and smoothes out the sound, it's possible we have the next Suicide Machines on our hands (although likely without a power-pop / skate punk era).

MP3s / STREAM
Guilt Trip / There Will Never Be Peace

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Anonymous (December 31, 2005)

man these guy's have talent and i would love to hear more of their stuff.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005)

new album coming out! omg it looks really cool! i pre-ordered it at www.alaskarecords.net and i get a free poster!!

Anonymous (June 1, 2005)

Fox Trotsky is way better live, but both ways they are really good. The lyrics are out of tune, which I'm sure you've heard a million times, but overall you guys rock everything. I've seen you twice at Timmy's parties and I hope I see you again.

Anonymous (September 5, 2004)

Coming september 2004
the ass crusade/politricks ep
www. Foxtrotsky. Com

Anonymous (August 21, 2004)

gus rocks!

Anonymous (July 21, 2004)

Well guys, you did it! And I'm proud of you!
For the people who DIDN'T LIKE IT!!! They are haters!
I'm really inspired by this album.... It's makes me stronger.
Even though I'll remember you always... I 'll always cherish this album with my heart...Because I'm the only one that knows what your names are and the other people will just have to find out! You know why..... THEY CAN KISS YOUR ASS!

Anonymous (April 29, 2004)

this cd is amazing. i saw them at swayzes with my buds and they talked to us before the concert and they were cool but their cd was COOLER ~BEELER

Anonymous (April 26, 2004)

Wow! Ska isnt so bad after all. Well most of it is but still...

Anonymous (April 12, 2004)

I like the album and they're cool.
-Tate

Anonymous (March 30, 2004)

fucking amazing, i love the emo-ska aproach, keep it up

Johnny Ska

Anonymous (March 12, 2004)

how did their music personally offend you? and if it didn't, why the fuck are you talking like you know them? you are an idiot and have made it clear to anyone who will now see your post. good thing you signed anonymous.

Anonymous (March 12, 2004)

fuck these guys and the album sucks

Anonymous (March 9, 2004)

"Take Back the Streets is nothing special"...?

Fuck that this shits off the hook.

MC Kreditt

Anonymous (March 8, 2004)

Everyone click this link and then the number it tells you to click.

My Army!

Anonymous (March 8, 2004)

great stuff guys

inagreendase (March 5, 2004)

"Suicide machines? they formed in '91 and didnt produce a coherent or mediocre cd until 1997"

Destruction by Definition was released in '96.

Anonymous (March 5, 2004)

no, its actually rather good
-jesus

Anonymous (March 5, 2004)

Jesus does new ska suck...

-BSD

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

This cd is available from interpunk. Com

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

i wanted to give you a 1 just to see if the stars change colours! but then i remembered that the cd is better than 1 red communist star and is closer to 10 gold stars, so i stuck with gold. you already know i have the cd, and i enjoi it, and find it very impressive for your first cd, so why say it again...have fun, maybe ill see you at the next show!
once upon a time there was a band, and the band was named Fox Trotsky. and then they said 'rawk' and the world covered in their glory. but then Mason got hit in the head with a bottle and got amnesia and forgot how to swim, thus drowning in his bath tub. and Gus got bitten by a flying wambat and when he grabbed his leg in pain, he fell on some sharp rocks and cut his heart out and died. and then connor got caught trying to be a con man and selling bootleg cd's for 5$ and so disappeared, and Fox Trotsky was no more. BUT THEN they came back as magical things that were badass and kick ass at the same time, and they owned you. THE END!
love (a bit long...)
ELLISON! (cool as a kick in the teeth?)

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

Suicide machines? they formed in '91 and didnt produce a coherent or mediocre cd until 1997! Fox Trotsky is progressing at a much quicker pace, and may hopefully surpass the Suicide Machines and claim the fame they deserve! But similarly to the Suicide Machines, Fox Trotsky is simply trying to have fun, and making catchy, well formed music at the same time, anyone who is able to do this has more in life than any loser reviewing their cd...cough...Dont forget the name, youll see it in lights some day

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

This cd is amazingly produced, yet there are still some slight mishaps with fluidity. However, the problems are minuscule (such as the coordination of vocals) & can easily be fine tuned. 'Guilt Trip' posses the lyrical capacity to take the masses by storm-the clever words could have any listener screaming along '36 billion in revenue'. The instrumental break in 'Guilt Trip' is experimental and simple, yet it effectively gives a placid touch to the energetic song. This band may be in its early years, but they are not to be overlooked. The future impact of Fox Trotsky should not be underestimated, because they have potential beyond prediction.

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

fox trotsky is alright, i guess...

j/k!

these guys know how to party. this is amazing! i just listen to the first mp3 and then the second and then the first one again and then the second again and it was like the first time every time. im going to buy this album as soon as i can find enough change on the street. you should buy it too!!!!!!!!
-myke

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

crackrockstead?! its been along time. god i love satan.

stza did guest vocals on the new sixgun radio. thats a good album.

there should also be a morning glory review. gimme heroine and gang control are amazing songs.

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

i could see stza doing guest vocals on this. good band that shows alont of promise.

look up "the fad". they too show alot of promise. their ska is the most opivy-esque ska i've heard in awhile. plus, vic ruggiero does guest keys.

8dollarclarinetsolo (March 3, 2004)

i really like the 2 songs on the internet, i dont like the screams on the first one, but i really like the second in general... hmm i could consider buying this

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

considering i'm a huge suicide machines fan this review intrigued me. i listened to the mp3 of "guilt trip" and was quite impressed, especially since this is apparently only a demo. i hope to hear more from and more about this band.

thanks, mike f.

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

i agree with the family circus bit.
but i think ziggy is catching up for worst comic.

get fuzzy isn't funny though. fox trot is funny, but rubes is my favorite.

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

i love fox trop too. but zits is better and get fuzzy is the best. anything is better than family circus though.

Anonymous (March 3, 2004)

"Fox Trot" the comic, is the greatest fucking comic in the newspaper today, besides "pearls before swine", "garfield", "zits" and "get fuzzy"

believe it...

-DaDrunkSkunk

notaclevername (March 3, 2004)

i was going to name my band fox trotsky and the adolflescents long before i even knew who these guys were, no kidding

ElVaquero (March 2, 2004)

good band name

gladimnotemo (March 2, 2004)

"Fueling an old school Suicide Machines feel with a crackrocksteady approach (minus the overbearing Satanism)"

Finally, crackrock without Satanism!

Anonymous (March 2, 2004)

so ya, the cd rocks. and everyone should check it out. i'm sure my opinion is a bit biased because i know the guys in the band, and did the cover art for them as well... but in all seriousness, its awesome... and to think they are just some local band putting out their first 'demo'.

corley_thomas2@yahoo.com

Anonymous (March 2, 2004)

Having had the opportunity to see this band play live, I can only say that the band is much better than Take Back The Streets. Not to say their demo is bad, but it was recorded in late November of last year and 3 full months is a lot of time for a new band to pick up experience. Their new songs such as Alien Nation and Mickey and Mallorey are absolutely amazing. Worth checking out.

Anonymous (March 2, 2004)

Pretty Sweet. I'd like to see what this band has in store for the future.

Jon_the_Skafather (March 2, 2004)

the screaming sucks and is too manic.....or maybe just too manic for me. made me feel like i was listening to some shitty emo band who would throw in ska just incase it gets popular again.

boba_fett (March 2, 2004)

for trot is a funny comic strip.

those 2 songs you posted have the jams. not bad.