SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE STONE FOXES – ON THE OTHER SIDE

The Stone Foxes
On The Other Side
Symphonic Distribution

After nearly six years without a new album, brothers Shannon and Spence Koehler of The Stone Foxes are back, and it was well worth the wait.

Their latest LP, On The Other Side, was created by the brothers as a way to support one another emotionally. In 2020, Shannon, who has congenital heart issues, had to undergo his second open-heart surgery, and Spence was struggling with anxiety issues at the time. Creating music is how they connect and support one another. Shannon hopes their latest LP “helps others strive to reach the other side of whatever they’re going through”.

Fans of western-style music and 70s rock like T. Rex will instantly fall in love with this album. The lead track, “Man’s Red Fire”, opens in a very cinematic way reminiscent of Ennio Morricone. There are a lot of layers within this song, and so much is happening. Every instrument, whether that be the organ, acoustic guitar, or horns, combined with Shannon’s vocals, deliver a perfect western sound.

“On The Other Side” and “Time Is A Killer” use the environment in different ways but both in very successful and interesting ones. The former uses the sound of wind and Spence’s whistling, which give it a sort of ‘ghost town’ edge. The lyrics of the latter, combined with the thunderous guitar riffs, give the impression that Mother Nature is a character—a stone-cold killer. Both songs utilize the environment to its fullest potential.

“Norah Jones” brings back the sound of T. Rex to highlight the importance of finding that special someone in your life. Shannon uses jazz singer Norah Jones, his celebrity crush as a kid, as a symbol to discover that his Norah Jones is his fiancée Shana. The song manages to be sweet and cute, almost like a love ballad, but at the same time still manages to fit with the western concept of the album. It is a very beautiful and heartwarming song, and in this reviewer’s opinion, it is the standout track from the LP.

On The Other Side features some of the best western rock songs  around, and is an album that needs to be added to your next road trip.

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