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White Denims debut album is a charming lo-fi introduction bursting at the seems with ideas. It’s reminiscent of the swarm of bands that emerged in the post Strokes climate in the early noughties- scratchy garage rock mixed with a Glam sensibility, Datsuns, D4, Vines, New Rhodes we remember you! White Denim take the same approach as the aforementioned to their music, what it lacks in expensive production sheen it makes up with sprightly attitude and an incandescent energy. Having already made waves in some circles following a successful visit to South By South West earlier this year ‘Workout Holiday’ has a small degree of hype and expectation looming over it’s head however we don’t think they have anything to worry about having delivered a solid and constantly exciting debut LP.
The first half of the album is predominantly made up of short and spiky pop songs that barely pass the three-minute mark. First out of the blocks ‘Let’s Talk About It’ is perhaps the finest of the selection with whirring buzzsaw guitars and instantly memorable vocals that call to mind so many greats of the past. That is certainly one point to make about White Denim, they couldn’t care less about the future or sounding ‘present’. This is a band rooted firmly in the 60’s Detroit and New York scenes- MC5 would be the best point of reference here.
The songs all have a loose stream of conscience running through them, the concept of song structure is played with loosely but never strictly adhered to and songs such as ‘Shake Shake Shake’ veer off in various directions from drum solos to fast paced vocal rants. ‘I Can Tell’ follows suit to an almost annoying extent, the extended jam at the end ruining what was a great three minutes previous. ‘Sitting’ meanwhile is a blissful pop moment welcomingly at odds with the rough edges of the rest of the album.
The album loses it’s way slightly in the second half, allowing the more experimental and free wheeling aspects of the band to take control at times and making the incoherent ramblings of ‘WDA’ and ‘Don’t Look That Way At It’ interesting rather than entertaining. From small beginnings often come great things and White Denim have a party album that challenges, evokes and pleases in all the right ways. A thoroughly brilliant way to pass the time.
