It's always nice to know one of your friends and favorite bands is doing good stuff and this example goes to a Singaporean band called Xingfoo&Roy. I met them initially 6 years ago. Me and some friends in our tiny town arranged a gig for the band. They're super nice and I think I've been in love since they put out the Late To The Party EP on 2018. The trio just put out a new LP this year, it's called Green Around The Gills. The band putfour years of effort into the new record and I think the result is outstanding.
I had some kind of vision that the band would have something good after they put out their second EP Late To The Party. I really know that putting out an LP is another level. I mean, it’s different if I could compare of making an EP. Making an LP does not mean that you will have all the good songs on the set, it is difficult for writing the songs with the same strength on every LP material. And unlike an LP, writing an EP is less pressure ‘cause it should be easier for putting up the same strength on each of the material. That's why any new band should put up an EP on their earlier career. Green Around The Gills to me is an LP that stands out for Xingfoo&Roy's mature sounds and songwriting. It has the same strength in each of its materials and I would assume that this record is its peak creativity point for the band.
I guess this is where the band should be. The trio has been around for more than 7 years and it's not an easy thing when you're in a band to be able to maintain a creativity catharsis for such periods. Well, I guess I was tricked at first as the band put up a teaser EP months ago which was being assumed was the official EP and, voila, a month later the band announced the release of their second LP.
The album starts with a track called "Buying Some Goodwill" and I love how the guitar riffs and drums blend to form a perfect intro for this song. The very first line is the band's signature songwriting and it is lovely to hear the band represent it again. And maybe the best part of this song is its outro where you can hear Terrible People's vocalist on this song. Ah, yes, can't forget that the horns bring a more heartfelt vibe to this song.
Then the next track that I would like to highlight is "To Be Cleaned." It's a chill acoustic track and yet feels so personal. I love how the female voices blend perfectly in this song and also the piano that makes it even more personal. It's the perfect tune to listen to when you drive home at midnight.
Ok, then we move into the track called "Next Year," which is an emo stuff that I feel is the center of the universe for Green Around The Gills. And then the last track, "It's Better Than Blue," starts with Gabriel's voice followed by a nice bassline and I think it is good stuff for being an intro. I also love the chorus part especially when Dan shouts the "harder" lyrics line on a higher note which gives a heartfelt vibe to this song.
The criticism would go for the recording sound in my dumb opinion. I would hear a thicker drum and a wider telecaster sound in the overall composition. Or maybe the band has just put out their "comfort sounds" there?! God only knows. At last, I would say that Green Around The Gills deserves everyone's attention.
