Kevin Bronson on June 25th, 2013

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Paul Waclawsky once called Los Angeles home, and he gave birth to the Boxing Lesson here a long decade ago before packing his bags for Austin. Musically, the singer-guitarist has relocated to a space station for “Big Hits!,” the band’s first full-length in five years. Always  purveyors of the psychedelic tip of shoegazing, Waclawsky and synth-bassist Jaylinn Davidson (who are now working with 14-year-old drummer Ben Redman) fashion kaleidoscopic fuzz bombs indebted to classic rock, prog and glam. Somehow “Big Hits!” – made with Chris “Frenchie” Smith of Sixteen Deluxe and out on his label – avoids over-indulgence, even on a couple songs that seem like Pink Floyd homages, and when the Boxing Lesson gets to the hook, it’s invariably worth the wait.

||| Stream: “Endless Possibilities” and “Eastside Possibilities”

Photo by Todd V. Wolfson