Edd & Andy from Crazy Lixx talk with Todd about their new album and more.
ToddStar: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for The Rockpit.
Edd: You’re welcome.
ToddStar: If it is okay, I would love to jump right into discussing Riot Avenue. This album has been over a year in the making. It seems much more melodic and polished than previous efforts. Was that the goal and direction you were hoping for?
Andy: Our goal was just to make the album the way we wanted it to be, 100% with no outside twists.
Edd: Yeah, the goal was to make it un-polished and a little more un-melodic than the previous efforts. We wanted it more raw and dirtier which I think we managed to do. There have been very various reactions to the new album. But we feel great about it.
ToddStar: Looking back at your previous effort, New Religion, which was our #1 of 2010 (Click Here), how do you feel the band grew and matured in the writing and recording process for the new disc?
Andy: We managed to produce and mix this album ourselves even though it wasn’t the plan, we had a vision of this album that only we could put together and for the songs, we just got back to writing rock n roll music and tryin’ to find ourselves in it. Trying to really find the sound of the band and put that on tape.
ToddStar: How do you compare the two discs sonically? Do you notice any large differences in the sound?
Edd: The difference is quite huge unlike our previous albums. We aimed for a more old-school approach and I think we nailed it.
Andy: Yeah, it’s more organic and pure, the album sounds like we sound like and that’s important.
ToddStar: What types of writing, production, and studio experiences that you learned while making previous discs did you know you wanted to carry over to this disc? Which did you know to scrap and move on?
Andy: Well I don’t think we thought about the old albums so much, but the whole gigantic production thing was over and I think that was key for us, but since it was made in a whole different way it’s obviously far away from the old stuff.
ToddStar: I have several songs that I love to hear and play over and over. Are there any favorites of yours that you find yourself going back to? I really enjoy “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” “Church Of Rock,” and disc closer “Only The Dead Know” (Our review of the disc is on our site here)
Edd: My favorites are “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” “Young Blood,” “Fire It Up,” “Downtown,” and “Church of Rock” I think.
Andy:” Young Blood,” “Riot Avenue,” and “Be Gone”!
ToddStar: Were any of the songs easier to write, record, and put together than others? You often hear about an artist that sat down to write a song and that essentially the song wrote itself. Were any of the songs difficult to get out?
Edd: Andy and I wrote “Young Blood” together. We were just sitting and the song practically wrote itself. That song was done real quick.
Andy: Yeah exactly, but Be Gone for example took forever.
ToddStar: If you had to describe the sound of Crazy Lixx to someone who had never heard of you, how would you do that?
Edd: “We’re playing hard rock and I think you would like it” I guess.
ToddStar: You have toured extensively – when will North America and the United States get a full taste of what Crazy Lixx can do live? Are there any other countries you haven’t visited yet that you would like to tour and make aware of Crazy Lixx?
Edd: Yeah we are hoping for some US dates soon! The problem is the economical part…Yeah we really wanna tour Australia, USA and Japan.
ToddStar: When performing live, do you find that you mix the material evenly from your albums, or do you tend to play more of the newer material? Are there any songs from your first two releases that you feel will always be a part of your live show?
Andy: We’ll mix it up but there’s gonna be more of the new stuff then the old.
ToddStar: What is next for Crazy Lixx? Is there going to be a big tour cycle surrounding Riot Avenue?
Edd: We hope so. We’re currently planning tours and stuff. We’re also rehearsing with our new members.
ToddStar: If you had to pick possible pairings for an ideal tour, what other bands would you like to see Crazy Lixx out on the road with?
Edd: Airbourne would be cool.
Andy: Yeah but then of course, Iron Maiden, AC/DC or Aerosmith wouldn’t be so bad either…
ToddStar: If there were one piece of music in the history of time that you wish you had written, what would it be and why?
Edd: Master Of Puppets by Metallica. Because it kicks ass. Piece Of Mind by Iron Maiden is kickass too.
Andy: Aerosmith’s Rocks or Appetite For Destruction.
ToddStar: Do you have any resolutions or goals for the remainder of 2012 professionally or personally?
Edd: Hm, well. I don’t know. It’s just another year and I hope it will kick more ass then the previous one.
ToddStar: What is the meaning of life?
Edd: Sleep, eat and make babies.
Andy: Play guitar and make babies, haha.
ToddStar: Thanks again for taking the time and we look forward to 2012 and more Crazy Lixx!! I am sure we will once again see you at or near the top of our 2012 CD Release list for Riot Avenue!!
Edd: Thank you!
Andy: Thanx
