Album Notes

From the beginning, ZOX has managed to build cohesion out of contrast. Look no further than the band’s twin frontmen: one is a tattoo-covered conservatory violinist with a history of trashing dressing rooms at Carnegie Hall, & the other a buttoned-down Type-A who turned down an offer from Stanford Law School to keep up the band. As one, they’ve thrived in the chaotic wilderness of the internet underground, developing the rare skill of writing meaningful, memorable pop songs characterized by a *truly* unique sound. Featured are an electric violin run into a guitar amp (the Village Voice once described ZOX’s violinist as “Eddie Van Halen meets Papa John Creach”), earnest, vivid lyrics, & a rhythm section that seems to swing effortlessly between musical styles.

Their first two albums, released independently, sold over to 40K copies—“The Wait”, mixed by legendary producer Mitch Easter of R.E.M. fame, ranked #7 Billboard Top Internet Album when it was released in ’05—garnered a buzz that opened up many doors: signage to LA’s Side1DummyRecords (Gogol Bordello/Mighty Bosstones/Flogging Molly) & booking agents CAA, along with numerous TAXI placements, including 12+ tracks sprinkled throughout MTV shows The Real World, Road Rules, & Maui Fever. Capitalizing on this momentum, ZOX, continuing their grassroots tradition, immediately hit the road showcasing at SXSW, performing at the legendary Reading & Leeds festivals in the UK, & adding to their log of over 1,000 live shows, touring with everyone from the Warped Tour to Rusted Root.