The Whigs

The Whigs have long been critically acclaimed for their energetic live show and organic, early 90’s indie rock sound. Their debut album, Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip, was long awaited by critics and fans alike.

The Whigs are touted as a garage rock band, and their entire album encompasses that label. The production is raw and streamlined, almost like a demo; it’s like three guys broke into a studio and laid down a couple of tracks. This is actually pretty close to what happened, as The Whigs eschewed a professional producer and opted to produce their debut themselves.

Lead singer Parker Gispert’s raspy and unrefined vocals take a bit of getting used to, but the more you listen to them, the more they perfectly fit the music and the Whigs’ sensibility.

The Whigs break away from the garage sound a bit with the inclusion of a church organ (most notably on “Half the World Away” and album opener “Nothing is Easy”) but somehow the organ doesn’t push them in a more funereal direction. Instead, the Whigs never waver from their brand of energetic, stripped down rock. They are comparable to other indie/garage bands like The Vines or Jet. I also really liked the horn arrangement on “Can’t Hear You Coming” and the sheer energy of standout track “Technology”.

Even the album art is keeping with the no-frills theme. The booklet has no printed lyrics; just a picture of the band and then the album credits. The album as a whole is stripped down and energetic, almost like a live album. Their energy is appealing and the stark feel of the record is a welcome change after the slick, over-produced quality of a lot of those being released lately.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. Nothing is Easy
02. Can’t Hear You Coming
03. Technology
04. Written Invitation
05. Don’t Talk Anymore
06. Violet Furs
07. Half the World Away
08. O.K, Alright
09. Say Hello
10. Give ’Em All a Big Fat Lip
11. All My Banks

Run Time: 45:00