I hadn’t heard of SixFoxWhiskey until someone told me about them a few days ago on reddit, and I was pretty excited given we were talking about the band Ripe a bit. According to their own website, SixFoxWhiskey plays a blend of jazz, rock, funk, and jam through something of a New England lens. There’s five people in the band, with someone on guitar and keyboards, someone on drums, someone on bass, someone on saxophone, and someone else on guitar, and all of them contribute to the vocals. I’m pretty excited for the album, so with that, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Sun I’d Seen” starts out in a really groovy, almost jazz-like way with that swinging feeling from the drums and bass, plus the smooth saxophone on top. Now it’s like a smooth funky little song that sort of reminds me of Vulfpeck a bit. The vocals are so smooth – it’s almost conversational in tone, and is almost casual in the way the singing sounds – that relaxed feeling really makes the song so rounded in a certain way though. The general feeling from the vocals almost reminds me a little bit of Kurt Vile. Oh wow this saxophone is really awesome, and super jazz-like, but has a great little funky groove to it. Oh wow, I’m really digging the drums – there’s some great flavor brought to the mix with some measures, and great feel all around. I’m really digging the bass lines in this one, sort of reminiscent of Joe Dart a bit.
“Pray for Decay” has a really personal, close, feeling in the soundscape. The vocals are so conversational again, but with great feeling. This song is pretty sweet. Oh wow, there was a little line from the guitar that was super tasty. This song builds on itself so much, it feels like it’s coming to a slow crescendo of sorts. Oh wow, I’m digging this funky jazz jam mix – really sweet. That saxophone gets a whole lot of feeling through. Oh wow, the percussion has some clapping or something of the sort in it, and it’s absolutely awesome; it’s almost like it’s clapping for the saxophone to keep going. Wow, those vocals at the end really meld together like it’s peering through some other musical dimension. Awesome song.
“Threes” drops right into some rock jazz funk mix up. I’m really grooving to this one. Oh wow, when the lyrics come on, the song sort of falls into some almost bluesy funk little jam. Oh wow, this music is awesome. Oh wow, this guitar solo is really awesome. It made me think quite a bit of Goose. I’m sort of getting lost in this music – really awesome song. Wow, then the song almost breaks through – truly awesome songwriting. I’m going to be saying “oh wow,” quite a bit on this album, I think. There’s some really awesome music in this one.
“Going Home” almost has a bit of little bluegrass feel with the short staccato’d playing of the electric guitar, but as other instruments come in it turns into more of a little groovy funk jam. Oh wow, that saxophone and other instruments get really nasty in a really great way. There’s almost a bit of darkness to this one, and I’m really digging it. I can’t express how much I’m really grooving to these guys – I can’t wait for them to put out more music in the future, this is definitely a promising group.
“Back of the Bay” starts out with some solo bass, and really does remind me quite a bit of Vulfpeck. SixFoxWhiskey reminds me a bit of some sort of strange mash up between Goose and Vulfpeck with some jazz thrown in – though that description still falls short of demonstrating how unique this band sounds. The electric guitar sort of melts the background of the song into some hazy dream state, while the saxophone sort of gives you something to follow through the fog, and the drums and bass really drives you forward. I’ve already started texting some friends about this band – it’s not often you find a band so seemingly early in their career that sounds as polished as this group. I’m curious how long they were together as a band before they released this album. Oh wow, this crescendo of a finish is absolutely awesome.
“Seven Stops” has some really tasty electric guitar work in the background of the soundscape, and some really groovy playing by the saxophone. The keys and guitar really make the background of the song almost dream-like. I’m totally hooked. Truth be told, they remind me of another band I’ve been meaning to write about: Earth Engine. I can hardly believe it’s already on track 6; I’m really enjoying this one. Oh wow, when that saxophone comes in for a solo, that really is held firmly by the tight groove from the drums, bass, and guitars, an awesome musical moment happens. Wow, that drum fill was sick. It’s tricky to even process what’s going on sometimes. Holy smokes, that slight distortion in the electric guitar solo is absolutely howling – it’s almost bluesy, but reminds me a lot something I’ve heard from Guthrie Govan. Wow, this guitar is going in on this track. Awesome song.
“Somebody’s Friends” has a bit of a slower, almost melancholic feeling to it. So far it’s only guitar and vocals, and the guitar is playing something like a smooth, slow modern blues rock little piece. Wow, that saxophone hits some really jazz-like notes to it. Wow, this song has a whole lot of feeling. There’s definitely a feeling of hopefulness to it, almost like they’re playing through a bluesy realm to a different one. Wow, that swirling organ does so much by doing so little. Oh wow, this electric guitar solo really starts off in a manner that’s so amazing. This one really is an awesome jam piece, I’m super digging this one. Truly an awesome song.
“Window Sill Rhythm” has a really groovy jam to it at the start. There’s so much range in sound from this album from each song. The organ is really awesome. This bass line is really awesome in this one; it’s got subtle little movements that really carry forward well. The drums aren’t stopping for anything anytime soon – really awesome. Oh wow, the backing vocals really add an otherworldly feel to it. Awesome song.
“Talia” has a really funky, mellow jazz rock type feel to it. The band is a bit looser in tempo, but still playing super tight. It feels like the album is starting to wind to a close. Oh wow, that electric guitar really has some great sweetness to it. That little groove that the electric guitar is playing adds a great percussive feeling to it. That bass is absolutely sick the way it’s moving the song up and down. That ending to the song is really blissful.
“Hope and the Sea” starts out really sweet with the guitar and drums. The drums are played so lightly it almost sounds like little waves on a beach. Things really feel like they’re winding down in a certain way, but the band is definitely jamming and grooving their way on out of the tune. The organ is absolutely sweet. Wow, this song really hits some super delicious notes in this jam that really ties the album up very well. Oh wow, that saxophone gets super deep and jazz-like with the way it’s feeling out the groove. Those little conga hits really add to the jazz-like nature of this part, meanwhile the drums and organ sort of hold the groove together as it gets out there, and when the guitar comes back in, there’s suddenly a really sweet structure that was seemingly there the whole time. Wow, this jam is sick. That bluesy tone from the guitar hits some great notes and complements the saxophone so well. The drums are awesome as they sort of crash everything together. That second electric guitar sort of melting everything together was really sweet. Awesome end to a great album.
Wow, I’m super stoked that I listened to this album tonight. SixFoxWhiskey is officially a band on my radar to watch out for in the near future. If you enjoy bands like Goose, Vulfpeck, or Ripe, and really dig fusions of different genres like jazz and funk and rock, I think there’s a decent chance you’ll enjoy this album. If you do decide to give it a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy it at least as much as I did.
-A