REVIEW: Ax and the Hatchetmen announce debut album, ‘So much to tell you,’ with “Oasis”
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY DANI WEINSTEIN ☆
OASIS is a yearning love song — Chicago indie rock band Ax and the Hatchetmen released single, “Oasis,” amid the arrival of their new album, So Much to Tell You, which dropped on October 24. Go listen to the 12-track album!
Since forming in 2018 after meeting in music school, Ax and the Hatchetmen have been blending their creativity together, releasing singles throughout the last couple of years that are full of energy, emotion, and groove. Singer Axel Ellis recently starred in the Prime Video show The Runarounds, and is wrapping up his tour with the rock band, in which he stars as Neil Crosby. It’s been a minute since their last album was released in 2023, so fans are eager to hear what the group has put together.
On the guitar is Sal Defilipis, Hunter Olsheke on bass, Nick Deputy on drums, Phil Pistone on the trumpet, Quinn Dolan on saxophone, and last but not least, Axel Ellis with vocals and guitar.
“Oasis” is an upbeat and bright song off the kick. Axel opens with the line, “You’re my only motivation,” and the guitar, bass, and drums kick in on “motivation”. With each verse, the momentum of the instruments increases. It all happens fast, which has you nodding ur head almost instantly. The guitar sets the song up perfectly, with its muted and unique strums, inviting the other instruments to come in naturally, creating a perfect soundscape.
“You’re like a cold drink of water / out in the desert, oh girl, you’re my oasis / I wanna know what makes you happy / I wanna know what makes you roll your eyes / I’m high i’m low, but if you’ll have me / coast to coast, tonight, tonight, close, we’re close to paradise.”
“Oasis” is about the person you would do anything for and a confession of love, and how someone can feel like home in chaos. “When you’re with them, all of your problems and stresses fall to the wayside,” says Axel. He explains that the title is more than just metaphorical, but also a reference to the band Oasis, who often nodded to The Beatles in their own work. Ax and the Hatchetmen incorporated subtle lyrical winks to both bands while reflecting on the challenge of writing a love song that feels original. The lyric, “it’s all been done before,” highlights that self-aware irony. For Axel, “Oasis” stands as a tribute to love songs and a hope that everyone finds someone or something that feels like their own oasis.
As I sit here writing this, I have “Oasis” on repeat, and with each listen, I uncover new uniqueness within the song – a guitar flick, background harmony, understanding of the lyrics, or pitch change. “Oasis” is the kind of song that you can play anywhere no matter the occasion – in the car, at a party, through your headphones, or dancing around in your bedroom.
If you like Foxtide, Sun Room, Dogpark, Foxtide, or The Backseat Lovers, go stream “Oasis” and So Much To Tell You!
