Foxy Shazam rocks the altar with The Church of Rock and Roll

Our parents have been saying for years: "Rock and roll is dead." And while their sentiment is probably false, at times it does feel as if some contemporary rock bands never play without metaphorical training wheels.

But for every band that is playing it safe, there is at least one band taking Lou Reed's advice and taking a "walk on the wild side."

Foxy Shazam is that band. Taking influences from rock icons ranging from Iggy Pop to Van Morrison, Foxy is in-your-face rock and roll. Incorporating influences of glam rock, Queen harmonies, and soulful narrative lyrics, Foxy Shazam is undoubtedly one of the most genre-bending, unconventional bands today.

Their fourth album, The Church of Rock and Roll, released Tuesday, is just as awe-inspiring as their live show, which is a spectacle in itself (think white leather pants and pianos being played with toes instead of fingers, for starters).

Some will call it ridiculous and others will deem it genius. Love it or hate it, The Church of Rock and Roll is a relentless, spastic whirlwind of glam, 1980s guitar-soloing, horn-sounding rock that won't be tamed.

Distorted guitars and a falsetto singing Eric Sean Nally open hastily with "Welcome to the Church of Rock and Roll," and never slow down. The short song packs all the essence of a Foxy track.

With a swirling horn solo and multi-layered Queen-style chorus harmonies, it's difficult to pin this track down on a first listen; is it pop, rock, glam or punk? But, that's what makes Foxy Shazam different; they don't worry about fitting into genres. They make music that challenges our conceptions of music, and you can tell they love to do so.

The beefier tracks on the album, including "I Like It," truly push the boundaries of conceptual rock and roll. An echoing, repeating guitar riff with Nally's wailing vocals, or the palm- muted verses juxtaposing the furious choruses of the single "Holy Touch" show how the band tends to throw together what doesn't fit, but somehow squeezes it into a less-than-three-minute rock song.

"Last Chance at Love" is extremely reminiscent of Pat Benatar's 1980s hit "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." The tamed guitars, echoing arena drumming complete with a subtle cowbell truly complete this pop gem.

"Forever Together," is a slow song where Nally gets to experiment more with his introspective lyrics. He opens singing directly to his son, saying, "When I go on tour my son always tells me ‘I wish I had a normal dad.' Just like the 9-to-5's. They don't understand." While the soft ballad is a nice departure with a soft guitar, piano and beat, the whispered lyrics become difficult to hear at times and could use a bit more support outside of the chorus.

The ska sounding "Wasted Feelings" is complete with a ripping horn solo over the chorus, a clean guitar and steady backbeat. Nally's falsetto, the ripping horns and guitar solos throughout the song may be a bit much for your average pop fan, but fans of Reel Big Fish can revel in this four minute homage to yesteryear's genre.

Foxy Shazam may not be the "saviors" of rock and roll, but their odd nature and bursting, personalized sound both on record and live is a wave of fresh air in a stagnant industry. These days, we're lucky if rock bands dress themselves and play live, let alone write their own music.

The Church of Rock and Roll is a successful effort from a quintet of men who envision rock and roll differently than their contemporaries and mash together opposing genres, bending the rules as much as they can. Thanks to their bizarre wardrobe and spastic performances both on stage and on record, we know Foxy does everything their own way, which is the way rock music is meant to be.