Album Review: WHITE DENIM - D

A rhetorical question to kick off this album review. Just how many good bands come out of Austin, TX? It's got to be a phenomenal amount. 'White Denim' is a band who immediately grabbed my attention when supporting Minnesota band, Tapes 'n' Tapes at Irving Plaza in April 2008. The headliners were decent that particular evening, but the then three man act that was, 'White Denim' stole the show with a refreshing and energy filled performance. Following which, I purchased their debut album release, 'Workout Holiday' on which songs like, 'Let’s Talk About It' and, 'Shake Shake Shake' epitomise this bands sound. With a raw sound, strong bass lines and somewhere between Robert Plant/Jimi Hendrix like vocals from lead, James Petralli, it makes for a very interesting listen. Live is where, White Denim really deliver with their percussive elements and drums rousing and boisterous, soulful wails from the lead man and a bass that is really encapsulating.

The release of, 'D' earlier this week marks the bands fourth studio album release in a busy five year spell for, White Denim. ‘D’ is their first offering since signing with Downtown Records in the US with all previous albums having been self released. This deal should certainly result in better distribution and perhaps more prospects for the band, but some of the compromises that this entails does not sit completely comfortably with the band who have gotten rather used to doing things their own way. Indeed, some feathers were ruffled when the band decided to provide a free 12 tracked MP3 titled, ‘Last Day of Summer’ via their website without the new record company’s consent. This relationship could be more intriguing to watch than that of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (slight hint of sarcasm).

‘It’s Him’ is the opener and we are immediately reintroduced to the varied, complex sound structures that, White Denim utilise and have frequently provided in the past. ‘Burnished’ and ‘At The Farm’ remind me of an old favourite that is, Eric Clapton and Cream. Where the first is in the bluesy form of ‘White Room’, the latter is kind of prog instrumental abound with hurtling solos and a heavy bass line apparent throughout.

‘Street Joy’ is a profound, delightful little song and probably my favourite thus far. The generally frenetic, Petralli delivers in a calm and soothing manner which is not familiar, but extremely pleasant. ‘Anvil Everything’ takes us back to the norm, cramming a large amount of variety into one four minute trip. Their ability to cross multiple genres in the space of one short track is fantastic.

‘River to Consider’ using panpipes and even making a little room for some ripping flute solos is folky, fun and quirky. It almost gives us the sense that White Denim are jamming away in their bedroom, having fun and flatly refusing to get stuck in a rut.

‘Drug’ is a wonderful, heavily blues influence track and again oozes ‘Cream’ in my humble opinion. White Denim succeed here in mixing the best of blues with a significant tinge of psychedelic to great effect. ‘Bess St.’ follows with the more familiar White Denim sound…striking parallels with their debut, ‘Workout Holiday’

‘Is And Is And Is’ is a close second favourite and definitely has the opportunity to hit top spot. Very, ‘Led Zeppelin’ in the chorus for me…this track begins softly before the rocking finale of this track. The closer, ‘Keys’ is something of a surprise with a country themed end using steel guitar and other such influences.

White Denim are pretty tricky to pin down in terms of influences and touch points, with their consistent  garage rock drive that erupts in an exploding attack references, ‘Grateful Dead’, but many of these tunes border jazzy and bluesy, folky and psychedelic and as aforementioned, I hear a lot of Cream and a little Zeppelin in this offering.

With the frantic schedule of SXSW in March, I missed the opportunity to see them live for a second time. That, however, will be remedied when I see them in their forthcoming show in NYC on 25th June at Bowery Ballroom. Only two listens in on ‘D’, but it’s a solid offering that I look forward to seeing delivered in a live setting. With the increase of production, they lose a little of the raw sound they had with the low-fi recordings of previous albums, but every cloud has a silver lining, this sounds far more buttoned up. Rating 7/10

New York Times - “Rugged, fidgety, overdriven garage rock sweetened with a psychedelic swirl”

SPIN - “A quality dose of hearty garage rock and punk rock aesthetic”

Street Joy

Is And Is And Is