An album that spans genres

Austin, Texas native rock group White Denim is back with their eighth studio album, the laidback and experimental Performance. Though it’s hard to pinpoint an exact style to categorize the group, White Denim is a modern rock staple that fans of the genre definitely need to give a listen to. The group consists of James Petralli on vocals and guitar, Conrad Choucroun on drums, Steven Terebecki on vocals and bass and Michael Hunter on the keyboard. The songs on Performance are as eclectic as they are entertaining, and though it may not be the best album of the group’s career, it’s definitely a worthy addition to their existing catalog.

The first song on the album and the single is “Magazin.” It’s a song with low, somewhat sleepy vocals and an impressive drumbeat that drives it forward. Towards the last minute of the song, there comes a psychedelic mix of sounds before launching into the chorus again, signaling just how experimental White Denim can be, and showing listeners what’s up ahead. The second song on the album is the title track “Performance.” It’s a more upbeat song, leaning towards the indie rock side of the musical spectrum. “Performance” is a very different song from its predecessor, minus the psychedelic musical interlude towards the end of the song. It’s arguably one of the best songs on the album, and though it may not be traditional hard rock, it’s fun and memorable.

Some other notable songs on Performance are “Double Death,” “It Might Get Dark” and “Backseat Driver.” “Double Death” has a very obvious jazz influence to it, with some brass instruments to go along with it. Petralli’s vocals work well with the jazz-like style, as he hits some melodic ranges that aren’t heard in other songs throughout the album. “It Might Get Dark,” on the other hand, has a more rockabilly feeling to it. Along with “Performance,” it’s one of the best songs on the album, as it both stands out and compliments the rest of the songs. The guitar lick that begins the song and is repeated throughout as well is fabulous and really wraps the song together. Finally, “Backseat Driver” is notable simply because of Petralli’s vocals. He reaches various ranges throughout the song, at one point sounding like he is speaking, to a perfect scream about a quarter of the way through the song. Petralli’s vocal range is impressive, and this song showcases it well.

Performance ends with “Good News,” another old-fashioned sounding rock song with a modern influence to it. The guitar riff throughout is beautiful and sounds like something out of a ’70s rock song. However, the song switches between the guitar and a keyboard beat that brings the psychedelic nature of the band into the song. It’s a great way to end the album as it showcases exactly the kind of music that White Denim is best known for.

Performance is available for purchase now, and White Denim is currently touring the United States.