Audio Mixer: John Agnello.

Recording information: Headgear Studios, Brooklyn, NY (06/05/2006-06/16/2006).

Brooklyn-based trio Oxford Collapse truly hit their stride on their third effort, 2006's REMEMBER THE NIGHT PARTIES, their first release for Sub Pop. While the raucous, post-punk energy that characterized their early releases is still intact, REMEMBER is sunnier and more tightly constructed, taking avant-pop cues from bands like Pavement, Wire, and Yo La Tengo. Excellent production from John Angello keeps things well-defined while still maintaining a modicum of indie-rock fuzz, so that the sound of REMEMBER blends the best of both worlds. With the step up in craft and production backed by the prestige of Sub Pop, Oxford Collapse are indie-rock contenders to watch.

To the skeptics who scowled at Oxford Collapse's move to Sub Pop in spring 2006, you have been defeated. Producer John Agnello (Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, Sonic Youth) assists Oxford Collapse in keeping things clean and consistent throughout Remember the Night Parties. Ultimately, the band has arrived with a poppier-sounding album while their signature sour earnestness remains intact. From the indie rock battle cry of "Please Visit Your National Parks" and the wry playfulness of "For the Khakis and the Sweatshirts" (they name-drop Ice Cube's real name here!) to the scorned irony of "Lady Lawyers," Remember the Night Parties is smart-mouthed and smart without being annoying. The vocal exchange of Michael Pace (vocals/guitar) and Adam Rizer (bass/vocals) is a crossfire of prankish and caustic, especially on "Molasses." Oxford Collapse finally exists outside the sphere ruled by new-millennium post-punk revivalists. Whether or not Sub Pop had anything to do with that is really up to the band. But obviously it was something that had to happen in order for Oxford Collapse to move beyond their pigeonholed introduction. ~ MacKenzie Wilson