White Reaper's debut full-length delivers power-pop-tinged garage rock in the vein of past revivalist bands (the Hives, Strokes, Supergrass and Sloan). With punchy and infectious hooks soaked in shimmery reverb, White Reaper Does it Again offers good clean fun.
The band embrace simplicity on "Sheila," the exuberant live feel emphasizing well-chosen chords combined with emphatic distortion on the song's sneak-attack chorus. Keyboard injections render "Make Me Wanna Die" irresistible, while "Alone Tonight" rides on a surf groove. Adorned with harpsichord, the slower-paced "Friday the 13th" features dusky tones that set the track apart from its sunnier counterparts. The more rockabilly tracks are less notable.
Still, White Reaper may be as exciting for kids now as the first wave of garage rock revival bands were for kids in the early 2000s, and since they pull the shtick off well, they may even have something to offer those of us who experienced those formative early aughts. If nothing else, White Reaper Does it Again offers up a heady, enjoyable dose of nostalgia.
(Royal Mountain Records)The band embrace simplicity on "Sheila," the exuberant live feel emphasizing well-chosen chords combined with emphatic distortion on the song's sneak-attack chorus. Keyboard injections render "Make Me Wanna Die" irresistible, while "Alone Tonight" rides on a surf groove. Adorned with harpsichord, the slower-paced "Friday the 13th" features dusky tones that set the track apart from its sunnier counterparts. The more rockabilly tracks are less notable.
Still, White Reaper may be as exciting for kids now as the first wave of garage rock revival bands were for kids in the early 2000s, and since they pull the shtick off well, they may even have something to offer those of us who experienced those formative early aughts. If nothing else, White Reaper Does it Again offers up a heady, enjoyable dose of nostalgia.
