TWBA

The Whitest Boy Alive

Following up on their 2007 debut, Dreams, The Whitest Boy Alive could have been expected to release an electro album in the same vein as fellow fashionable, bright coloured, hoody wearing, indie pop bands, Vampire Weekend and Friendly Fires. Instead, Norwegian, Erlend Øye's second project, is a funk inspired, soulful jam, scattered with bass guitar riffs, xylophone pings and simple, everyday, relevant lyrics.

The benefit of having an 11 track album is that there is little time for filler. Album opener, Keep a Secret is a nostalgia trip back to the days of 70’s funk bands and while Øye is certainly no George Clinton, his smooth vocals help to offset the funky instrumental.

Effortlessly sliding off the back of the Roy Ayers influenced, xylophone and keyboard heavy, Intentions, is the up tempo and world weary, Courage.

“No love can be guaranteed, it don’t come with no warranty. So wake up or wake up alone, if you want me show some, courage”.

Loopy guitar riffs pump some life into the jazzy if slightly repetitive Timebomb.

Then the love/relationship theme continues on the slower and bassy Rollercoaster Ride. The song seems to punctuate the album, separating the 70’s sounding opening half with a slight, modern electro twist on the genre adopted in the second.

Unfortunately this is, coincidently or not, where the album seems to tail off. Aside from one of the album standouts High On the Heels, the rest remains suitable for the non-descript background noise heard in lounge bars.

Detractors may say, and have said, Øye doesn’t posses the vocal soul to front a funk album and that the instrumentals, produced in a self built studio somewhere on a beach in Mexico, sound overworked, both of which are true. Without being a classic or innovative, Rules pays homage to the influences of the past in a style that separates the band from much of the main stream.