The Minor White

Five uber-skilled multi-instrumentalists make up the Minor White, and they’re not afraid to show off. Old Theatrics, the Pennsylvania quintet’s debut album, is ablaze with ideas. "Vaudeville” opens with two minutes of quaint music hall organ and strings then ends in a mess of distorted guitar and feedback. Likewise, "Go To Hell” changes from a jaunty country pop tune to a full-band blow out without a moment’s notice. The Minor White’s fusion of classic Americana songwriting and scuzzy indie jams recalls Mark Eitzel and American Music Club at their most inventive, yet the Minor White’s pop sensibilities are stronger, possibly thanks to the influence of Nick Krill from the Spinto Band, who produced Old Theatrics. The Minor White adeptly introduce vocal harmonies into "Money For Puppets,” one of the record’s more angry-sounding songs. "I’ve Burned Down Every House,” with its impressive string arrangement, represents the band at their most accessible.