Brooklyn based anti placement outfit Oxford Collapse has been floating on the underappreciated cloud of dust that their 2006 raucous release Remember the Night Parties left in its wake. Its post grunge like grinding anthems stirred fist pumps in the air at times and sing-alongs the next. With their fourth album, Bits, the band decided it was best to just play and let the rest catch up if it may.

Bits takes a time-is-money approach to its sound as if it were a guide urging you through an exhibit of speedy post punk and giddy choruses. Where Nigh Parties had its down time, Bits would be its attention deficit brother. From the peeling tires that launch the album’s first track ‘Electric Arc’ to its rolling thunder of ‘I Hate Nobody’, the album refuses to dawdle save harmonious tracks like ‘John Blood’. Yes, that’s right. Michael Pace and his trio have matriculated a bit from their slacker-goes-bawling sound and even picked up some vocal concurrence. What comes from it is a much more mature and clean sound than their previous attempts. Even howler ‘The Birthday War’ has a refinement that comes off much more pure than anything in their catalog, despite it being nothing stylishly new. Although there are string numbers and the album feels more complete from start to finish, its the tried and true sound we’ve come to love from the band.

Although, those looking for meaning should steer elsewhere. Oxford Collapse, for better or worse, has yet to make much peace between their sparring sound and writing. For whatever reason - be it the financial woes of studio production or little desire to lyrically nurture - Bits is at its best when it just jams and forgo the dark waters of divergence. It’s never shallow enough to stub its own toe but it does leave you wondering why exactly you’re flailing in the deep end to some of its nonsense. But that’s what Oxford Collapse does to you with their tizzied and unyielding sound.

Sean Kendall