Album Details

• Artist: Boxed Wine
• EP:
Boxed Wine
• Label: Self-Issued
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: charlesmartel on 2012-07-24

This self-titled self-issued release from the New Jersey based outfit is a five track EP which offers variations on a theme, not in the sense of classic music (like Edward Elgar for instance) but more in the sense that Boxed Wine have taken a light, indie pop, added some jangly guitars and thrown the whole thing over a beat which is intended to get you up and dance.

This is an EP which is full of summer. And above all it is fun to listen to - probably as much fun as the band had making it. Apart from the jangly guitars, the most noticeable feature is a very fuzzy bass which gives it a kind of lo-fi quality to the sound. Now you may want to dance in a sort of happy, cheerful disco style or, when "Oh No!!" comes on, you might even be induced to pogo, or perform some other ridiculous antics. But it would not matter. Because you would be having fun and so would everyone else so nobody cares what you are doing.

The EP kicks off with "Waste Your Time" (which draws out the comparisons with Vampire Weekend) and then it continues in pretty much the same vein as it started. "Feral" references werewolves with a smile not seen since Warren Zevon while "Oh No!!" is the Pains of Being Pure at Heart without the guitar distortion. And it ends as it began, with "Summer Wine", an upbeat and cheerful indie dance number as ever was.

If there is a downside it is perhaps the rather nasal voice of Chris Mactire. Located at the upper range, it is delivered in pretty much the same fashion throughout and lacks some variety. But don't let that put you off. If you have a penchant for happy indie pop which encourages you to throw yourself around and have a lot of fun, then this is something to enjoy this summer in the garden, round the barbeque or the pool, or at a festival.

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