OxenFree, Beacons (released 5/2016)

I'm going to be honest about a really shitty habit of mine. If someone tells me they think I'm going to really love a band, and they're so excited for me to see them, and it's such a "Betty Band," I will, without fail, be underwhelmed on first listen. This has happened for two of my hands down favorite bands in Brooklyn (THICK and The Royal They — I'm sorry, guys). Really, it's because sometimes I'm a jealous dick. We all have our things.

You can add OxenFree to that list. I'm the fucking worst. They're the fucking best.

It makes sense to be listening to OxenFree on the first few warm days of summer. It makes sense to put them in your headphones and take the long road down to the park, create one of those movie montage type moments where you meet your friends and the sky is perfectly blue and someone totally has a beach ball and everyone is smiling and wearing jorts. That truly happens sometimes. This is the soundtrack to that. 

"Make Out" is a particular highlight — it somehow manages to be a powerful, poppy sing-along dance party anthem that is still incredibly sexy. How am I supposed to sing along while making out? That's a lot of tongue work.

Check out the album. Check them out live. They're a collective powerhouse on stage where each member individually brings their own flare, and it's wonderful to watch that machine work.

Listen here: