June 26, 2008

New Oxford Collapse - "The Birthday Wars"

thubmnail icon: New Oxford Collapse - "The Birthday Wars"

A couple years ago, hardworking Brooklynites the Oxford Collapse put together "Please Visit Your National Parks" a catchy lazy-day post-punk anthem that's still exciting. (In fact, I stuck it on a compilation a year after Remember The Night Parties came out because it felt new). It's been difficult finding anything in their output that can hang with it, but "The Birthday Wars," the first song from the angular, imploding trio's forthcoming fourth album Bits, is their best single since: A quick, noisy pop clutter that might remind you of Sub Pop label mates No Age, if it weren't for the multi-person harmonies.

Oxford Collapse - "The Birthday Wars" (MP3)

At their best, they still remind me of a Drive Like Jehu/Mission Of Burma collision. Only softer and more jangling than that suggests. As far as other Bits, keep your ears pealed for "Electric Arc," "I Hate Nobody" and "For The Winter Coats." Let the above photo of the guys work as your Oxford Collapse mnemonic device. At least for the latter.

Bits is out 8/5 on Sub Pop. They're good live:

06/26 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
06/27 - New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
06/28 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
06/30 - Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage
07/01 - Boston, MA @ TT the Bears
07/02 - Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
07/29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
07/30 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
07/31 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
08/01 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
08/03 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement
08/04 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
08/05 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Music Mill
08/06 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
08/07 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
08/08 - Chicago, IL @ The Abbey Pub
08/09 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
08/10 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House
08/11 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel