the Boxing Lesson and Lalaland
Songs in the Key of C, and Mumbojumbo EP (Diamond)
Reviewed by Christopher Gray, Fri., Nov. 24, 2006


The Boxing Lesson
Songs in the Key of C (Diamond)
Lalaland
Mumbojumbo EP (Coup d'Etat)
These debuts total just more than an hour of listening time well spent, from two local trios who deserve more of a following. Though claiming "Indie Rock Is Dead," the Boxing Lesson's Songs in the Key of C provides enough lo-fi life support in its tales of criminals and crackheads to stay the reaper. Opener "Back From the Dead" welds ghostly theremin to a knotty rock tune, opening a Pandora's box of psychedelia explored further in the gothy "Climb the Ladder" and Bowie-esque "Mirrors." Well-versed in the writings of Robert Pollard, Lalaland offers jaunty melodies sparring with ambivalent lyrics about the rock & roll life. Sneering "Monkey See Monkey Do," which tosses an emphatic trumpet behind choppy guitar chords, is more GBV-like than the outright power-pop of "Over Again" and "Waiting on Us," but all of Mumbojumbo feels somehow intricate and off-the-cuff. Call on the power of three.
(both)