Album Review: Rixton – Let The Road
2 min read
Rixton are relatively new on the ‘band and also boys’ music scene, but now may be the perfect time to strike it big with what could be a slowing down of the giant juggernaut that is One Direction, due to Zayn Malik leaving. They’ll be many groups clambering to be the number one replacement however, so Rixton need to bring their ‘A’ game with debut album Let The Road.
Featuring a mix of styles, but also quintessentially pop through and through, the record does shine in its own distinctive way. What helps make it stand out is the fact there’s a main singer, the whole band chip in on instruments, and their tailored vocal style. Album-titled track Let The Road is testament to this, kicking in with barbershop quartet style harmonizing, mixed in with an auto-tune styled sound. The singing is eerily perfect but also an interesting start to the record that many others wouldn’t have dared try.
Beautiful Excuse’s riff-driven intro leads into the songs reflective core, based around a sweet but sorrowful story and brought into blossom by a strong and bold chorus. The lyrics are just the right amount of melancholy in places, and add a layer of depth to the track: ‘I could scream and shout but what’s the point, its done’. But when they need to, the boys can also throw out a proper dance track; We All Want The Same Thing shows of this side best, with its high-pitch vocals set against disco-dance beats, helping bring the pop to the forefront and likely to be a dance floor filler in the coming months.
For all that the album does well, it does lapse into the unoriginal a couple times. I Like Girls is something that you could imagine Bruno Mars would release, with its sunny and pleasant exterior, but trying maybe a little too hard to be a big summer anthem. Wait On Me’s attempt to be bang up-to-date with drops and beats almost hinders it, and it could have worked better being more stripped back.
But these moments are just fleeting, and quickly forgotten when Me and My Broken Heart kicks in. You can really tell why this song was a big hit from the first listen; reggae beats set over the strongest melody on the record take the track to the next level. There’s just something about this song, and like all the great tracks, it’s easy to get stuck in your head.
Rixton have created a decent debut album in Let The Road. It’s a little rough around the edges, which is to be expected, but it’s something the boys can be proud of. And who knows, this time next year they might be the ones to topple the monopoly of One Direction and their tribe of loyal followers.
