White Light Motorcade - 'Thank You Goodnight' (Octone)
2/5
By: Kari Wynn
'Hail, hail rock 'n' roll,' or so Chuck Berry bellowed all those years ago. Seemingly innocent enough, but who would have guessed in this day and age that such a simple idea would turn into a quest - a hunt for the 'real r 'n' r deal', as it were. It's a statement that a bastion of bands is clinging onto these days, and, sigh, White Light Motorcade are no exception.
Jumping on the BRMC-bandwagon, WLM wisely kick off their debut-album with some charming, perfectly formed three-and-a-half-minute numbers ('Open Your Eyes'; 'It's Happening'). And one would suppose that they're supposed to hear elements of, like, Stooges, and punk, maaaaan - but it comes and goes polished and polite without one iota of raw spirit. There's some slow, boy-I-bet-the-chicks-will-dig-this, wishy-washy style numbers thrown on for good measure ('All Gone Again') - but we sincerely doubt it'll evoke panties sailing from the audience.
And ever hear a much-hyped band and think, 'Well, what's all the fuss about?'; made you feel monumentally out-of-the-loop, didn't it? Hailing from the (present...) rock-capitol that is NYC, all the elements are there - the screeching guitars, the well-coiffured punk-rock sneers, the huge, sing-a-long choruses, the seemingly catchy singles; but the result leaves a mild sense of cynicism and slight confusion. Sadly for the Motorcade, in spite of pushy efforts, this is rock/indie-by-numbers - and, on occasion, at its most wearyingly basic.
Artists in this article: White Light Motorcade
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