As we wrote last week, Will Knox is on a five-week tour of America in support of his new EP, Lexicon. Fortunately when we saw Knox, we got a copy of the new record, if you want to call it that. The artwork is unlike anything we’ve ever seen and for that, we have to hand it to Knox for the record buying experience about art again. Or as he puts it: “Lexicon is a 5-track recording put together as a comic book. It is an effort to bring music, lyrics and artwork closer together in a new age of digital technology. While digital downloading has often taken away the necessity for artwork, it has also allowed us to release this project without the need for CDs, Cassettes or Records.”
Like his last release, The Matador and The Acrobat, Knox melds the worlds of art and music together. Unlike last time, Lexicon comes in one simple format: a comic book with a download code. As simple as it may seem, the comic book features the incredible illustrations of Robin Ha, whose work carefully coincides with Knox’s lyrics. Combined, you have one of the most unique releases of the year.
“Ice Capades” is a deep track where Knox sings from the perspective of being too stubborn to learn from one’s mistakes. Lyrics like “The lessons I’ve learned/don’t seem to stick/I’m the same old dog/with the same old tricks” are powerful, especially the way that Knox belts them out. You can’t help but to feel the emotion of a man who is trying his best to change, yet cannot. The acoustic guitar and banjo sounds are simple, but gets accentuates the meaning of the song’s lyrics and like a great storyteller, Knox allows for his imagery do the talking more so than the music.
“Bullets” is a love song gone awry, but in only a way that the singer can do, makes it sound as beautiful as it is tragic. Knox has come into his own as a lyricist, combining imagery with raw emotion and it is best exemplified on this track. Lines like “I should have run/Like a rebel heading for the hills/instead I swallowed the apple pips like poison pills,” are powerful and give the listener a feel for the pain that the narrator is going through. The fiddle, banjo and acoustic guitar give the song a stronger sense of urgency and allow for Knox’s voice to shine through.
Creativity has always been a hallmark of Will Knox’s work. Using the power of illustration combined his terrific storytelling makes Lexicon one of the most unique releases of 2011.
Will Knox is currently on tour and check his website for tour dates and to order this one of a kind releases.
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