The Whigs, “In the Dark” (ATO,) – “There’s a hundred million people in my mind,” singer-guitarist Parker Gispert admits in the leadoff track to the Athens, Ga., trio’s third album (out next week). “Which is me, and which is not?” Whoever they are, on this album they’re not all imploring Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and new bassist Tim Deaux to turn it up to 11. The Whigs might have blared their way onto the scene as likable disciples of Dinosaur Jr., but “In the Dark” isn’t all grit and guitars. The trio worked with three producers on the album – Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective), Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant) and Angelo Petraglia (Kings of Leon) – and while that’s usually a recipe for disaster, all the cooks don’t taint the soup. “Kill Me Carolyne” suggests a punk-rock Kings of Leon before they became uninteresting enough to be radio stars; “Dying” detours into psych-rock territory; “I Don’t Even Care About the One I Love” could be an ’80s anthem; and “Someone’s Daughter” stomps with an almost-metal fury. For two albums, you admired the Whigs’ brawn; here, you love their elasticity. Highly recommended.
||| Live: The Whigs open for Black Rebel Motorcycle Clubs on Thursday and Friday at the Echoplex.
Black Rebel Motorcyle Club, “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo”(Abstract Dragon/Vagrant) – Sometimes it seems like BRMC is running in place, but it’s a great place: where British shoegaze, heart-wrenching Americana and snarling punk tangle their roots to sprout some gnarly tree of mysticism. BRMC’s up-and-down trajectory climbs on their fifth album (out this week), with Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been seemingly energized by the arrival of new drummer Leah Shapiro. Their urgent fuzz is at its strongest on “Bad Blood” and “Shadow’s Keeper;” “Sweet Feeling” and “Aya” hark to the folky BRMC of its “Howl” album; and “War Machine” roars with foreboding. For a band that once asked the question “Whatever Happened to My Rock & Roll,” “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo” seems like a good enough answer. Recommended.
||| Live: BRMC plays sold-out shows at the Echoplex on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and visits the House of Blues Anaheim on Tuesday.
Pitchfork sure dumped on the Whigs’ new effort. Wonder why?