Released - 3/16/10
Label - ATO Records
BLURB - The worst thing in the world is trying to force creativity. Trying to force something that isn't entirely there. Trying to think outside the box, when you can't even think inside the box. Meet The Whigs. They've been around for the past few years, or so I'm told, and they've been slowly building steam out of their home base in Athens, Georgia. After hearing a fair amount of buzz, excitement and pre-meditated acclaim, I stumbled into their brand new album, "In the Dark." Luckily, I stumbled right out of it. "In the Dark" begs the question, 'what makes a good rock band?' More-so, what is our definition of good? This album is lazily and complacently packed together with a sound that can only be described as something The Whigs assume people who like rock music, would like. I'll put it this way. If Kings of Leon had a bunch of younger, less ambitious brothers, and they made an album...it would sound like The Whigs.
Rating - 3.5 out of 10
FULL STORY - I think The Whigs and "In the Dark" could very well be the 2010 equivalents of Cage the Elephant. The typical indie-rock band that is carefully treading the mainstream and underground scenes, hoping that one album will push them over the top. Whereas Cage the Elephant was a legitimately creative band, The Whigs seem to get by on their look and feel and assumption that they are this great new rock band. Unfortunately, the indie rock world (more specifically - straight up rock) is a fickle mistress. The amount of rock bands that rise from the underground, succeed and continue to flourish, are few and far between. Kings of Leon came from the underground, but they essentially had to alter their sound to make it big, and ultimately sold out. Cage the Elephant had a decent amount of mainstream success last year, but we haven't really heard anything from them in 2010. Jack White's Dead Weather was supposed to be this ingenious collaboration that would appeal to mainstream and indie rock fans...it failed horribly (in my opinion), despite their decision to make a second album. So as you can see, it's already a tough climate for rock and indie-rock bands. To come out with an album like "In the Dark" and expect big things is extremely naive.
The first track, "Hundred / Million" is wonderful display of the point I'm trying to make. The prototypical great rock song usually has a solid, catchy riff and a powerful chorus. "Hundred / Million" begins by establishing a short riff simultaneously performed by a deep bass line and fuzzy, distorted guitars. There are never any alterations or augmentations on the riff and within 30 seconds it's already feeling tired. From there we go straight into a very brief chorus that seems to come in way too early and doesn't particularly accomplish anything. The same riff from the verse also very subtlety outlines the chorus as well. As the chorus finishes we immediately go back to the same riff, but in verse form. It's like they just came up with the riff, got stuck on it, and decided to use it for everything.
Following "Hundred / Million" is "Black Lotus." Contrary to the opener, this song actually varies itself nicely and throws in some great, upbeat drumming patterns during the chorus. However, the vocals are filtered with some kind of tinny, megaphone effect in what appears to be an effort to make the whole song seem more distorted. Here's my thing, if you're going to be a good rock band, you've got to have good, pure vocals. Play your instruments and sing your song, that's all that we really want, and two songs into this album we've received neither.
At least for me, I like my rock bands to have a decent pace and tempo. The Whigs once again fail to impress me on "Someone's Daughter" as this track is filled with elongated chords and monotonous vocals that tend to drag their feet. This is coupled with uninspired riffs and solos that are neither catchy nor productive. The whole vibe on this track feels like a generic 90's rock band...I'm thinking of Oleander or even Fuel here.
Here's the one bright spot on the album: "I Don't Even Care About the One I Love." Once again the vocals appear to be filtered a little too much, but it actually works on this song. What's interesting about this track though, is that it really doesn't sound like the majority of the album, and for that reason alone it really jumps out. There are plenty of hooks (both vocal and instrumental) and they incorporate pianos and organs. Even the solo on "I Don't Even Care About the One I Love" feels right. There is a much more inspired and creative aspect to this song that I can't quite define, but it's in the vein of The Black Keys or Delta Spirit and it works.
That being said, this album is pretty much a collection of B-level tracks that never amount to anything. Largely, "In the Dark" seems forced and predictable. Could they just be trying to cash in on the fame of acts like Kings of Leon? It's an easy statement to make, but no band sets out to sound like another band...or at least they shouldn't. I'm not insinuating that this is the circumstance, but again, it's easy to come to this conclusion...especially when you've just announced you're touring with Kings of Leon.
Tracks
1.) Hundred / Million
2.) Black Lotus
3.) Kill Me Carolyne
4.) Somone's Daughter
5.) So Lonely
6.) Dying
7.) I Don't Even Care About the One I Love
8.) Automatic
9.) I Am For Real
10.) In the Dark
11.) Naked
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