Fox Ears – ‘Donatello’ [Album Review]

Fox Ears is a Cleveland, Ohio-based 4-man band comprising Alonzo Johnson (songwriter, lead vocals, keyboards), Tyler Ray Lobdell (guitar, vocals), Jeff Larch (percussion) and Matt Gorey (bass). The genre-bending band unveil their latest project, Donatello, a 12-track body of work that blends modern R&B, rock, contemporary funk and soul into a seamless sound underpinned by insightful songwriting and expressive vocal performances.

The album aims to capture the band’s live performance style on wax, and each track is carefully crafted around that live stage aesthetic with a polished touch. The first track, “Money & Time,” opens the floodgates with a soul-stirring score filled with punchy grooves, soothing chords and a laidback rap-inspired performance that helps set the tone. The next track, “Don’t Call Me,” explores a post-breakup situation and lists the situations that led to it and then some. The instrumentation here is lively and energetic, and Johnson’s vocal performance is intense and emotionally punchy. For the first taste of his vocal proficiency, we say it’s absolutely brilliant.

“An Interlude” is the next cut and it’s a short piece showcasing the band’s musical maestro as they blend modern improv jazz arrangements with neo soul chords and a dash of R&B. “Faces” talks about losing one’s true identity to fit in and how it changes one’s perspective over time, while the title track “Donatello” dives into growth, belief and chasing one’s dreams regardless of the obstacles ahead. Both tracks are distinct and continue to show the band’s rich musical tapestry. The former weaves layered soulful arrangements that lead into funk-laden upbeat grooves, and the latter employs bossa nova rhythms with a recurring mantra-like chord and prevalent bassline that adds an extra punch to the track. The project leans heavily on the Donatello theme, which juxtaposes the legendary Italian artist and his nerdy Ninja Turtle analogue. This is more than subtle on “Sometimes,” which has the first and only feature in the form of AllTheHipe. The solemn piece shows different facets of a man going through natural emotions. Some days he can be expressive and outgoing, others he can be vulnerable. The kicker is how lead singer Johnson uses each Ninja Turtle as a metaphor for how he is feeling. The following tracks, “The Little Things,”  and  “40 Winks,” give audiences a nuanced take on daily struggles, deceit and betrayal, while “Act Right” brings that triumphant horn-driven funk vibe to the forefront. Johnson steps to the mic with his expressive raps and bravado-laced songwriting with bars like “Might get you some money if you act right/Why your man so grumpy, he better act right/Even if you ugly you better act right/You got a bunch in your undies you better act right.” “Rivers” is another brilliant instrumental piece that adds colour to the project with its rich musical tapestry ripe with warm and atmospheric chords and an upbeat groove to match.

The last two tracks include “Leo’s Burden” and “Never Wake Up,” which help bring the project full circle. “Leo’s Burden” is a cinematic piece that evokes raw emotions and transports listeners into a whole new space. The musical arrangement is dynamic and each instrument, from the main piano chords, pulsating bassline, scenic strings and electrifying guitar riffs, cuts through the mix, allowing the listener to fully experience the vibe. “Never Wake Up,” takes listeners right into the middle of a live performance. The track truly has that live stage feel and is punctuated with rich guitar licks, progressive chords and deep bassline-driven grooves and Johnson’s soul-stirring melodic runs. The great part is it ends the project on a positive and reflective note and with the tumbling emotions that occur throughout the album, it’s the perfect closer if we do say so.