White Denim

Despite being music blog fixations for a few years now, Fits marks the first commercial release in North America for Austin, TX-based garage rockers White Denim. The trio make the most out of their introduction on their third album from the first moment, as "Radio Milk How Can You Stand It" explodes with a frenzy of animalistic drumming, raged riffing and more time (signature) codes than the world over. And they don't slow down from there; "Say What You Want" sounds as if Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott had set his 'fro on fire, "I Start To Run" could actually out-rock MC5 and "Everybody Somebody" teaches a clinic on boogie. If White Denim have a weakness it's in trying to cover the entire classic rock spectrum. They reach shakier ground when "Mirrored Reverse" ventures into some deep psychedelic jungles, and "I'd Have It Just The Way We Were" takes on some ill-advised, breezy, blue-eyed funk. But White Denim have the dexterity to execute virtually anything and sound like pros, which works to their advantage. If you can't get enough of these guys, Downtown has included Explosions, their second and equally-as-rousing album, as a bonus disc, which is a pretty succulent dessert.