Album Of The Week: White Denim’s Stiff

Austin, Texas, rock ‘n’ roll act White Denim have been doing something for the past few years that’s a bit of a rarity. When this band was just starting out, they had this crazy blues punk sound that was raw as a t-bone steak. Recently the band has gotten a tad more polished and adopted some psychedelic elements. What makes this a rarity is that over time White Denim has gotten better in an era where bands are never able to recapture the initial greatness they exhibited in their first few albums. This couldn’t be more evident than with their seventh studio album, Stiff, that was released on March 25.

After the departure of drummer Josh Block and guitarist Austin Jenkins, who left to work on Leon Bridges’ stellar debut that came out last June, vocalist and guitarist James Petralli and bassist Steven Terebecki retooled the band with Jonathan Horne on guitar and Jeff Olson on drums. The new additions make for fresh music that’s abundant in Stiff. Following up 2013’s Corsicana Lemonade, White Denim’s new album has that similar psychedelic sheen, but it brings back the rawness of the band’s earlier material. Stiff is a pretty ironic name for an album that’s going to make you feel the exact opposite.

White Denim brings the fuzz with their new album. There’s a classic rock feel to it that’s accessible and infectious. Show it to your old man and he’ll probably say, “That’s what the kids are listening to these days?” with a gleam in his eye. For a guide of what to have him listen to first, check out my top tracks from the Album Of The Week:

“Holda You (I’m Psycho)” is rhythmically pristine and you can definitely tell why the band picked it to be the lead single. Petralli and Horne scorch the track with riffs; burning ears are a guarantee after listening to this. The fuzz is apparent in “Mirrored In Reverse;” it sounds like something Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy would have written. You’ll be hooked when Terebecki’s bass hits. There’s a little bit of funk and Motown going on in “Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah),” a mover and shaker.

New England music fans can go see White Denim at The Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 22, and they’re incredible live. While you’re at the show or right after you read this, go grab a copy of Stiff. The title is a bit ironic but the music isn’t.

Stream “Holda You (I’m Psycho)” on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/whitedenim/holda-you-im-psycho; White Denim’s Website: whitedenimmusic.com