Wax Fang: La La Land

What's going on in Kentucky Judging by My Morning

Jacket's new record and its hometown tourmate Wax Fang, it's like a flair for

theatricality is being transmitted through the Louisville water. But while MMJ's

turn to prog went for funky twists, it's immediately clear from the grandiose

opening of Wax Fang's La La Land that frontman Scott Carney is fully intent on

creating a Pink Floyd-esque prog-rock opera. From spacey, eerie psychedelia to

whistling to references to World War II, the album conveys a vision as strongly

as The Wall did,

but with a less-polished, basement aesthetic that provides vivid moments of

needed brightness. Spanning soaring whirls of energetic guitar pop ("The Doctor

Will See You Now") and rolling, break-of-dawn mini-epics reminiscent of Arcade

Fire (the closing "Wake Up Sleepyhead!"), La La Land is a fiercely focused

collection with an impressive, bold ambition and artistic cohesiveness. It's a

strong effort, but even if Carney's dream of resurrecting Roger Waters doesn't

work out, Wax Fang could probably compose some incredible Off-Broadway rock

musicals.