ALBUM: Ox
ALBUM #: 5th
ARTIST: Palace
LABEL: AWAL Recordings
RELEASE DATE: September 18, 2026
GENRE: indie rock
RUNTIME: 44 min
album cover: Wilm Danby for Palace’s Ox
From the first listen, Ox feels like an album built around love, nostalgia, and the little moments that shape us. Palace has always had a distinct sound, and this record is no exception. The twang of their guitars, the understated basslines, the steady rhythm of the drums, and Leo Wyndham’s unmistakable vocals come together to create something that feels both familiar and refreshing. There’s a warmth to the album that makes it easy to get lost in, as though you’re revisiting a memory you didn’t realize you missed. With autumn just around the corner, Ox feels like the perfect soundtrack for the changing seasons.
Track 1: Dream On
What a beautiful introduction to Ox. “Dream On” opens the album with gentle instrumentals and a sense of yearning that pulls you in right away. There’s a certain freedom in the way the song unfolds, balanced by the reassurance of knowing that someone cares for you. It feels like standing at the beginning of something new while still holding on to the comfort of what you already know. As an opener, it sets the emotional tone for the album without giving too much away.
Track 2: Kid
At first, I thought “Kid” was about a long-distance relationship, but the more I sat with it, the more I felt it could apply to any relationship where distance gets in the way. Whether it’s romantic, platonic, or familial, missing someone you love is a feeling that goes beyond the nature of the relationship itself.
I interpret this song as a love letter from Leo to his child, a reminder that his love stays steady no matter how far apart they are. What I find especially moving is the realization that missing someone is, in its own way, a privilege. It means you’ve found someone worth missing, someone whose presence has left a lasting mark on your life.
Track 3: Ohio
Nostalgia in a song. There’s something uniquely bittersweet about looking back on moments that felt ordinary at the time, only to realize how much you’d give to experience them again.
This track hits particularly close to home as my friends and I navigate adulthood. We’re growing older, figuring out our lives, and spending less time together than we once did. The days of casually spending hours together without worrying about our responsibilities are becoming fewer and farther between. It’s a strange feeling, realizing that a chapter of your life is slowly becoming a memory while you’re still living it.
But that’s the thing about growing up. Life doesn’t wait for us to catch our breath, and neither can we. “Ohio” reminds me that even when circumstances change and people grow apart, the memories we’ve made don’t lose their meaning. Sometimes, the beauty of a moment only becomes clear once it’s gone.
Track 4: Denny's
Ah, my favorite track on the album.
There’s an undeniable coziness to “Denny’s” that makes it feel like a quiet evening spent somewhere familiar, with nowhere else you need to be. Its warmth comes from the feeling of having somewhere you can simply exist without expectations, a spot that welcomes you back no matter what the outside world demands of you.
While I adore the song on its own, I do think its placement in the tracklist interrupts the momentum of the first three songs. The transition feels a little abrupt, especially just as the album starts to find its emotional direction.
Still, I appreciate how “Denny’s” expands on the album’s themes without relying solely on romantic love. Rather than focusing on the people we miss, it turns our attention to the places that hold a special spot in our hearts. After all, home isn’t always a physical location. Sometimes, it’s simply the feeling of being somewhere you belong.
Track 5: Lucky Boy
The guitar had me hooked from the very beginning. Its chord progression carries a warmth that pairs beautifully with Leo’s vocals, drawing you into a story that feels intimate without losing its sense of adventure.
What I love most about “Lucky Boy” is the idea of choosing an uncertain future with someone you love over a life that might seem perfect on paper. There’s a quiet courage in walking away from what’s familiar to pursue something that feels right, even when you have no guarantee of where you’ll end up.
The guitar’s brighter, higher-pitched twangs bring a sense of movement to the track, giving it a lighthearted quality that contrasts with the uncertainty of its story. It feels like taking a leap of faith, trusting that wherever life leads you, having the right person beside you makes the journey worthwhile.
Track 6: I've Been Laughing
If someone asked me to describe the quintessential Palace sound, “I’ve Been Laughing” would be one of the first songs I’d play them. Everything about it feels so unmistakably them, from the atmospheric instrumentals to Leo’s emotive delivery.
The song explores the desire to build a life with someone: imagining running away together, growing old side by side, and holding on to the memories of a love that can’t last forever. There’s a tenderness in that final sentiment, acknowledging the inevitable passage of time without letting it diminish the love shared along the way.
I also love how the song complements “Lucky Boy.” Where the previous track explores the decision to pursue an uncertain future together, “I’ve Been Laughing” feels like a glimpse into the life that follows. It makes me wonder what it means to spend a lifetime with someone, knowing that even the most beautiful things are temporary. It’s a bittersweet thought, but one that makes loving someone all the more meaningful.
Track 7: Kicking Up Shadows
“Kicking Up Shadows” stands out with its rhythmic, almost Western-inspired instrumental, offering a refreshing change of pace from the album’s softer, more melancholic moments. Palace keeps their signature atmospheric sound while adding a little more movement, giving the track a character all its own.
What makes this song so captivating is the contrast between its breezy instrumentation and the melancholy beneath the surface. There’s a lightness to the music that makes it easy to get swept up in, even as the lyrics invite you to reflect on memories and connections that have changed with time.
It reminds me of stumbling across an old photograph or hearing a song that takes you back to a particular moment in your life. For a brief second, you’re transported somewhere else, revisiting a feeling you haven’t had in years. You know you can’t return to that exact moment, but there’s comfort in knowing you were there to experience it in the first place.
Track 8: Brown Bread
Unfortunately, “Brown Bread” is the weakest track on the album for me. Compared to the other songs, its instrumentation and chord progression feel somewhat generic, and I found myself struggling to connect with the sound.
The lyrics, however, offer something more compelling. I interpreted the song as an exploration of relationships that have run their course, particularly those where the hurt starts to outweigh the happiness. Loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good for you, and recognizing that difference can be one of the hardest parts of letting go.
I appreciate the message of learning to walk away when a relationship no longer serves you. It’s a reminder that the love we give to others shouldn’t come at the expense of our own well-being. Although the song didn’t quite land for me musically, its message resonated enough to keep it from being a complete miss.
Track 9: Made My Bed
As an absolute sucker for love songs, I knew “Made My Bed” was always going to find its way into my heart. What I adore about this track is how it portrays love as something that goes beyond the excitement of romance. It isn’t just about the good days or the moments when everything feels effortless. It’s about choosing to stay, working through the difficult parts, and knowing that at the end of the day, you still have someone to come home to.
The lyrics feel especially genuine in the way they acknowledge the commitment it takes to build a life with another person. There’s something so intimate about the idea of sharing a bed, returning to the same space at the end of the day, and finding reassurance in each other’s presence. It’s a simple image, but one that captures the beauty of a lasting partnership.
Of all the love songs I’ve come across, this one holds a special place in my heart. Its sincerity is what makes it so memorable, and it’s no surprise that it’s ended up on more than a few of my playlists.
Track 10: Ox
Oh, Leo. Your lyricism never fails to get me.
As the closing track, “Ox” feels like a natural conclusion to everything that came before it. The record’s recurring themes come together without being neatly tied up in a bow. Instead, the song leaves you with something to sit with, letting the emotions built throughout the album linger long after the music ends.
There’s a certain beauty in the way Palace approaches love and longing throughout Ox. Not every relationship lasts, not every memory can be revisited, and not every uncertainty comes with an answer. Yet there’s still hope to be found in the experiences themselves, even when they leave us with a little heartache.
As the album’s title track, “Ox” feels less like a final statement and more like an invitation to reflect on everything you’ve just heard. It’s a fitting end to a record that finds so much meaning in the things we often take for granted.
Final Thoughts
With Ox, Palace delivers a record that feels intimate, reflective, and unmistakably their own. While some tracks resonated with me more than others, the album as a whole offers plenty to appreciate, both in its instrumentation and its lyricism.
What I find most compelling is how the songs approach love from different angles. There’s the excitement of choosing a future with someone, the ache of missing the people who matter to us, the comfort of having somewhere to belong, and the realization that even the best moments eventually become memories. These experiences are so ordinary in the grand scheme of things, yet Palace finds a way to make them feel significant.
For me, Ox is an album best enjoyed when you have time to sit with it. Whether you’re taking a long drive, watching the leaves change, or simply letting your thoughts wander on a quiet evening, there’s something here worth returning to.
And with autumn approaching, I can’t think of a better time to let Palace soundtrack the changing seasons.
