Buxton
Nothing Here Seems Strange (New West)
Reviewed by Dan Oko, Fri., March 16, 2012
Buxton
Nothing Here Seems Strange (New West)The fourth largest city in the country, Houston is not exactly a natural hotbed of Americana. As the biggest city in Texas and former home of Townes Van Zandt, however, H-town deserves more respect. Young band Buxton caught a break when signed to New West, and on its full-length debut, the fivepiece manages to come across as wise and wide-eyed at the same time. Nothing's too flashy, decent hooks and solid No Depression fare like "Blown a Fuse," with a little help from friends such as labelmate Robert Ellis, and a secret weapon in multi-instrumentalist mandolin master Jason Wills. You can't go too wrong with the Uncle Tupelo-like jangle of "Riverbed" and an uptempo country rocker such as "Boy of Nine," concerning the evolving standards young men have for love with emphatic harmonies. (Wed., 11pm, Skinny's Ballroom)
