Foot Ox is an experimental folk act that was once primarily based out of Tempe, Arizona. I just moved here recently to attend University, and picked up his second LP at one of the local record stores in the used bin. I was definitely pleasantly surprised, i had always known that the Phoenix area had some great folk groups but it was nice to find this gem.

Foot Ox is the brainchild of Teague Cullen, for this LP “It’s Like Our Little Machine,” Teague brought together some of the greats from the greater Phoenix area to play on his record. ILOLM starts out with the track, “Above the Ocean,” which is definitely a nice opener. Above the Ocean has this crazy swirly whistle thing going on the fourth beat of each measure, super dope. It also sets the tone lyrically for the record, morbid, slightly, uplifting, but depressing all in one. Humorous Teague begins the song by crooning “Horse shit is flowing out of my mouth,” immediately you know what kind of animal you have with this album.

The second track Sandra is a sad love song, obviously great lyrics in this one “Sandra don’t frown your the sun over my town, it breaks my heart to watch it get dark.” However that is most of what the second track has to offer and appears to be a passive track for track three “I am”

“I am” is easily one of the best folk songs i have ever heard in my life. It’s catchy not to long, not to short, thought provoking, reluctant in all the right ways. Mildly reminiscent of other Arizona folk greats Andrew Jackson Jihad (AJJ). Catchy tune though really, driving by a violin and the strumming of a guitar. Catchy lyrics, “I am the world spinning round inside of you, I am the animal that ripped your heart in two, I am the blood flowing out of your nostrils, that you have destroyed with harmful chemicals, I am your shirtless father in your front yard beating you, i am your brothers begging him not to, i am your pregnant mother crying in the bathroom.” You can really appreciate this song just over all.

Track four is called “Carabell,” is really hard to understand it’s catchy and holds onto the listener with an odd organ sounds, repetitive strumming, and strange whistle. Lyrics on this one make the listener unsure of what the song is really about, besides Teague being crazy.

Track five is a sample called “A,B, Zuppers” that Stephen Steinbrink found when on tour with Teague, in Athens, Georgia. It is basically interaction between and interviewer and a child, where the child sings the ABC’s in a way slightly different then the norm. This sample rules!!!!!!

Dizzies, is the title of track six and it’s totally enchanting, has a cool Tim Burton esque whistle through the song, memorable line is “Like a goldfish swimming in toilet water.”

Tiny Animals, track seven, is probably the second best song on the album. Super driven drums, heavy plucking, anthem for people that are a different bread all together. This song will speak to any listener.

The B side of this record continues with the same mentality as the A side. More strumming, more Teague awesomeness, and gang vocals. The real highlight to the B side is the last track “Eat Up.” Genuinely optimistic and catchy, definitely the sing along anthem that the album needed.

Overall this album is definitely worth having if you are a fan of folk. If you like AJJ, Defiance, Ohio, anything on Plan-it-x, Stephen Steinbrink (French Quarter), or even early Bright Eyes. If you can catch Foot Ox live, or whatever do it!