Having blazed quite a trail with their triumphant SXSW Festival appearance and then their ecstatically-received single 'Let's Talk About It' in April, Texan trio WHITE DENIM have inadvertently thrust themselves into the white-hot spotlight of expectation as their debut album 'Workout Holiday' blasts into our collective headspace.
Not that buckling under the pressure seems likely where the feverish creativity of guitarist/vocalist James Petralli and his impressive rhythm section Steve Terebecki (bass) and Josh Block (drums) are concerned, as 'Workout Holiday' (so named because it was recorded in mobile trailers in the lads' down time from their blue collar day jobs) mainlines on seething creative energy throughout and positively revels in its' seemingly endless eclecticism.
'Let's Talk About It' again kicks us off and quickly reminds us what the fuss has been about these past few months. Hammering in courtesy of Block's tom-heavy drums, bitten-off riffs and Terebecki's slippery, get-into-the-crannies basslines, it's got the irritation of The Electric Eels, the hotwiring of great rock'roll combined with side orders of great noisy shit that Pere Ubu do/did so well, the intensity of the MC5 and even a little dub space to play around in. It's hard and danceable and when Petralli yelps (he's a great yelper) “let's talk about it, let's react!” he's already got you hooked.
Much of what follows is equally thrilling, though you gotta be on your toes to keep up with the blitzkreig excitement. Songs like 'Darksided Computer Mouth' and 'Heart From Us All' are all itchy Stooges-style guitars being played off with Firehose-style plot shifts, with Block's drums skittering all over the shop and Terebecki's bass always playing the vital anchor role. Elsewhere, 'Shake Shake Shake' is so exhilarating it can barely contain itself after its' initial burst of Monks-esque shouting and skids off into its' own fascinating, but fractious space after its' first 90 seconds.
|
Crucially, though, while White Denim will no doubt continue to receive plaudits for their relentless eclecticism, it's also important to remember that 'Workout Holiday' succeeds because Messrs. Petralli, Block and Terebecki understand that music needs to connect with the heart and hips as well as the head. This revelation ensures they also find room for the more linear likes of the heat-seeking, should-be single 'All You Really Have To Do', the occasional foray into something lighter and pastoral ('WDA') and even – admittedly quite arcane – singer/ songwriter detours like 'Sitting' where Josh Block gives the likes of Randy Newman and Billy Joel a run for their money behind the ivories.
'Workout Holiday', then, proffers an itinerary which swerves into new wave, punk, loops, art-rock, garage pop, dub and even electronica along the way. It's a manic pop thrill, for sure, and its' inherent diversity may well ensure White Denim are dubbed an essential fashion item for the season. Hopefully that won't work against them in the long run, for the feverish creativity on display is more than good enough to be protected and nurtured. It'll certainly pay dividends if so.
(http://www.myspace.com/bopenglish)
|
