Album Review - Hexagon - FIlligar

With every record and live performance Filligar has proved themselves to be one heck of a rock & roll outfit. Fresh off a year plus of cross country touring, including a tour with Counting Crows, and a tour of the middle-eastern nation of Azerbaijan, organized by the US Embassy and Department of State as a part of the Cultural Ambassadors Project, Filligar hits us head on with their new record Hexagon. 

The Chicago-based quartet of brothers Johnny, Teddy and Pete Mathias, along with long-time friend, Casey Gibson, have yet again dropped into our laps a fantastic collection of songs, a true testament to the glories of Indie rock done right. Hexagon plays like the big brother of 2010's The Nerve, like the big brother who has traveled the world, soaking up new experiences, learning and growing, then coming home and sharing those lessons with the world.

Slated to hit stores July 23 (pre-order the album via iTunes, and stream here to preview) Hexagon has the potential to be one of the best new records of the year. The music and vocals are slightly more sultry and a bit darker, a bit heavier, than on The Nerve; the guitars, bass and keys layered, deep and emotional, kinda Doors-y, kinda early Boston-y, kinda Kinks-y, kinda awesome.

For a great example of this, check out the tracks Digging for Water, Great Big Heavy, and the track that's undoubtedly my favorite on the record, Pacific Time; flowy and mellow, the song evokes feelings of standing on a cliff on the edge of the world, staring out into the ocean, pleading for your love to come back to you.
.
For some truly rockin', classic Filligar-esque songs, that must be played with the stereo cranked up to 11, Money on the Dark Horse, Knock Yourself Out, and the record opener, New Local. The wild-card track on the record has got to be El Trepador. The song has an awesome swing to it, it's got the feel of an old west country-rock song, like they could have used it for that new Lone Ranger movie, and yet it still has that Filligar groove to it. I dig it.

Hexagon is another winner of a record from this fantastic band. Filliar is heading out again on tour to support the release of the record. Get tour dates and other info here. Go see them, get the record, embrace the rock.