White York
White York (2007)
Brian Shultz
Buffalo, NY's White York are an interesting band because, going off their general look (COME ON), their influences (hey Tom Waits, Replacements and Fifth Hour Hero) and gruff delivery, it seems like they're going for a raw, early Against Me!-type sound. Except, their lead vocalist bears such an uncanny resemblance to Ian Mackaye that the band somehow comes off sounding a lot like Embrace for three-fourths of their demo.
Either way, this isn't a bad thing at all. Their four-song, self-titled demo/EP manages to retain that mid-`80s, vintage recording, with the band seeming like they would almost fit right in during the era. It's just funny hearing their clear strive towards meeting the folk-punk tinge of peers like Fake Problems and American Steel in the beginning of tracks like "The Facade of Progress" until the vocals come rambling in and nearly throw the entire song off its seeming stylistic intentions. And listen to opener "In the Cave," trying to forget what you just put on: I could nearly guarantee you asking yourself if you just threw on Embrace. "Getting Transitions Better," the last track, finally seems to resonate with enough of a slowed-down twang where you can really hear what White York are going for.
Despite the unintentional hilarity of this entire scenario, White York are a pretty good band, and whatever they come out sounding like on their next release, it should be an enjoyable one.