The Ex have been a seminal underground anarchist punk band for nearly 35 years. Catch My Shoe marks a major change for the band with original vocalist GW Sok leaving to pursue other adventures and Arnold de Boer taking over the duties.

Opening track “Maybe I Was the Pilot” is a bit tough to get used to for longtime fans of The Ex, as de Boer’s voice is a sea change from Sok. But once the newness wears off, de Boer and The Ex find a solid, steady flow with the same gritty diverse instrumentals that the band has made into a trademark sound. “Bicycle Illusion” is the strongest track on the album, where the band truly feels whole again despite the personnel changes. “Eoleyo” is the most interesting track on the record with the addition of an Afro-beat vibe on top of the already stunning instrumentals that set The Ex apart from the crowd of first-wave punk bands.

Catch My Shoe has an overall vibe of a band trying to find its feet again after losing Sok, but the album comes together in a marvelous way that falls just short of cohesiveness. It may not be the best record from The Ex, but there certainly is nothing to be disappointed by, even with the new vocalist.

(Ex Records, no address provided)