Foxygen

We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic (Jagjaguwar)

The parents of San Franciscans Foxygen must have cut class the day they had to choose between the Beatles and Stones. Their offspring never learned the difference. Jonathan Rado and Sam France mesh Sgt. Pepper with the Rolling Stones’ Aftermath on sophomore LP We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, which picks up where former Daniel Johnston backers Hymns left off. Every subtlety comes steeped in retro classicism, like spacey closer “Oh No” or the “Lovely Rita” sheen on opener “In the Darkness.” Even their oohs and ahhs, and their “Bowling Trophies” bah bah bahs sound like they’re sung into a shag carpet. Ambassadors flashes forward solely on the title cut, the one that reminds you that “the 23rd century gonna kick your ass, boy.” (11pm, Hype Hotel; Thu., 10:55pm, Red 7 Patio)

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This article appears in March 15 • 2013.

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