Jonathan Rado, the co-founder and backbone of his emerging main music vehicle Foxygen, offers his first solo LP “Law and Order” on the heels of what’s been a breakout year for Foxygen after the west coast psychedelic pop vibes from their second studio album “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic”. It’s a fitting time for Rado’s solo debut after a summer of band turbulence rumors and cancelled tour dates due to injuries from Foxygen lead singer Sam France’s eccentric stage antics, and Rado offers up a fried out sedated ode to his 60’s influences on “Law and Order” that will mostly appease Foxygen fans while teetering on the verge of a caricature of the style he emulates, ultimately leaving listeners longing for more consistency and focus.

What separates “Law and Order” from previous Foxygen releases is the haziness Rado cloaks his songs in. Whereas “We Are the 21^st Century…” featured clean production and concentrated song progression, Rado favors a more sporadic songwriting approach this time around, scattering pretty folk rock numbers between fuzzy acid rock jams to mixed results. Album opener “Seven Horses” kicks things off with a promising wobbling synth riff and steady rhythmic build up, but never seems to fully evolve into its own potential. “Look 4a Girl Like U” possesses dramatic ballad possibilities, but Rado’s screaming reverb falsettos comically distract from the integrity of the music itself. “I Wanna Feel It Now!!!” sounds like a cross between early freaked out Flaming Lips and sinister carnival Ray Manzarek keyboard chords, but the distorted chaos comes off as jumbled and disorientated. The album features two instrumental songs, including the groovy ballpark organ driven “Dance Away Your Ego” that would seem like fitting background music to Scooby Doo and the gang running through haunted houses, but in the end don’t’ feel strong enough to stand on their own without vocals. 

There are plenty of optimistic tracks perfect for barefoot frolics in daisy fields, but Rado doesn’t seem truly sincere with the music’s happiness. “Hand in Mine” is a throwback to the back and forth flirting of Johnny Cash and June Carter, but the joy sounds somewhat forced. However, “Faces” and “Oh Suzanna!” are album standouts that blend California legends The Byrds and The Mamas and the Papas with current throwback artists like Kurt Vile and MGMT.

The real question mark of the album belongs to the closing track “Pot of Gold”, the only song on the album that’s from a different decade other than the 60’s and untraceable to Foxygen. This catchy retro 80’s ballad features inspiring strings and over the top drum machine fills perfect for a Rocky workout montage. But it feels appropriate that Rado concludes “Law and Order” on this song that leaves you wondering where Rado’s line is drawn between candidness and mockery, as well as revealing what may be in store for the progression of Foxygen’s sound on future albums.    

Live Photo By Cara Robbins