Remember the Night Parties

Album Review

To the skeptics who scowled at Oxford Collapse's move to Sub Pop in spring 2006, you have been defeated. Producer John Agnello (Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, Sonic Youth) assists Oxford Collapse in keeping things clean and consistent throughout Remember the Night Parties. Ultimately, the band has arrived with a poppier-sounding album while their signature sour earnestness remains intact. From the indie rock battle cry of "Please Visit Your National Parks" and the wry playfulness of "For the Khakis and the Sweatshirts" (they name-drop Ice Cube's real name here!) to the scorned irony of "Lady Lawyers," Remember the Night Parties is smart-mouthed and smart without being annoying. The vocal exchange of Michael Pace (vocals/guitar) and Adam Rizer (bass/vocals) is a crossfire of prankish and caustic, especially on "Molasses." Oxford Collapse finally exists outside the sphere ruled by new-millennium post-punk revivalists. Whether or not Sub Pop had anything to do with that is really up to the band. But obviously it was something that had to happen in order for Oxford Collapse to move beyond their pigeonholed introduction.