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19. Nearer My God - Foxing (2018)

Indie Rock

Foxing’s third album Nearer My God, swings like a dependable pendulum between somber, prayer-like contemplation and towering, soul-baring exclamations doused in melancholy desperation. Predominantly sad, heavily introspective and often cathartic, each track meticulously unveils itself, materializing gradually at times and other times violently. Vocalist Conor Murphy showcases an impressive range, hitting an emotive falsetto with regularity, while maintaining a passionate, auspicious delivery throughout. The lyrics are thoughtfully written, exploring heavy themes of hopelessness, broken homes and drug abuse with a graceful tact.

For an album mired in feelings of rudderlessness, it’s incredible to behold from a technical perspective. The production is mature and complex, incorporating a diverse set of influences into a cohesive and satisfying end product. Post-punk flavorings peak through at times, but not nearly enough to define the sound, which seems to draw more inspiration from catholic masses and funeral dirges. The remnants of a religious upbringing surface with regularity, as suggested by the album’s title, though they have certainly long-since been abandoned. Closing track “Lambert”, a reference to the airport of the band’s native St. Louis, MO, wraps the album neatly but without a silver lining. It’s all bleak, but beautiful too.

*image; cover art for the album Nearer My God by Foxing