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White Denim - Workout Holiday [Album]
Full Time Hobby November 22, 2008, 03:20 PM Views: 578
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 There must have been some sense of pride in Austin when its goliath of a music festival, South by Southwest, finally had a local buzz band. And it’s nice to finally see and hear a much-hyped band that doesn’t look or sound as though huge worldwide success means too much to them. Which is just as well, because although bands are usually hyped as the next big thing, I suspect the hype surrounding White Denim has more to do with their potential to produce more genuinely brilliant underground records like ‘Workout Holiday’, rather than any potential to top the charts and festival headline bills. Here’s hoping though,,,or rather not. You see White Denim are one of those ‘Buddy Bands’, a band you share a love for with your mate rather than the world. Opening with two short sharp shots of garage rock, singles ‘Let’s Talk About It’ and ‘Shake Shake Shake’ fool you into believing ‘Workout Holiday’ could be the work of one trick ponies. After the Austin trio power through The Hives-playing-Devo brilliance of ‘Let’s Talk About It’, and certain underground club hit ‘Shake Shake Shake’ (does exactly what it says on the tin), the album shoots off in a completely different direction with ‘Sitting’. Sounding like Anthony Hegarty fronting The Monkees’ cover of Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), it’s an impressive departure, not least for showcasing singer James Petralli’s remarkable dual vocal style. Such varied influences, intentional or not, don’t stop there. ‘I Can Tell’ is a brief affair with Love and ‘All You Really Have to Do’ has more than a Little Richard vibe, taking in The Sonics too. The second half of the album (for a record so steeped in musical history, I feel I should say flip side), White Denim explore their experimental side; now veering off in different directions within, rather than from each song. ‘Darksided Computer Mouth’ is as nuts as the title suggests, and is probably the finest realisation of their more madcap musical ideas. This half of the album also features less of Petralli’s vocals, ‘Look at it This Way’ and ‘WDA’ ditching them altogether in favour of extending the jam sessions that tracks on the first half of the album simply veered towards for a time. Even in the absence of vocals however, White Denim keep things interesting and therefore the listener remains engaged. They fill their tracks with lots of intriguing little sounds that suddenly appear and then fade away, afforded their time by a welcome rein on distortion. It’s clear they are keen to show that they have more in their locker than the garage stomp, as brilliant as it is, of ‘Shake Shake Shake’. It’s such variety that spices the life of the album, meaning your interest is held throughout. It’s the sound of a band putting themselves through their paces, and it’s quite the journey. ‘Workout Holiday’ indeed. http://www.myspace.com/bopenglish
Last edited by Heron : November 22, 2008 at 03:23 PM.
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| | | | Overall Rating | | 8 | | Vocals / Lyrics | | 9 | | Musicianship | | 8 | | Production | | 7 | | Creativity | | 7 | | Lastability | | 7 | | Reviewers Tilt | | 7 |
76% | |
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