White Rabbits: It's Frightening

    Sometimes I still hear a good song on the radio I've never heard before, and actually happen to catch the DJ saying who the track is by. Oh, and sometimes I even manage to remember who it is later when I get home, cause I rarely listen to the radio outside of my car. In the case of the White Rabbits, I did happen to remember their song "Percussion Gun" on WBER 90.5 FM "The Only Station That Matters". Lucky for me, because this has been much busier than normal and I've been too crunched for time to spend it checking all my usual sources and listening to a lot of new music. So far, from what I've heard of the Brooklyn based, Columbia, Missouri originating band, this is not a tremendous find, but have either potential to be really good or have just hit their high point with It's Frightening (2009). Their previous and debut album For Nightly (2007) I guess met them with enough success to be picked up by TBD records (known for distributing in rainbows in the U.S. for Radiohead) for this their sophomore.
    One thing I'd like to hear differently with White Rabbits, is their honky tonk piano sound. For a group that relies heavily on piano throughout, almost to the point of being truly Piano Rock, the twenty years since it's last been tuned grandma's house piano is to me a fad driven let down. A real piano could still have that heaviness that they are looking for, imo. And labeled as Post-Punk revival might be more a generous nod to their prior to White Rabbits bands: Texas Chainsaw Mass Chorus and The Hubcaps, which were punk/hardcore and ska, respectively.You definitely will hear these type of influences in their music, but when I think of Post-Punk, I think of Tokyo Police Club or The Strokes. Fort Nightly might also be closer to such a descriptor, but I perceive a shifting away towards just plain indie rock. For one, their music is more repetitive rhythmically and melodically, without as many quick hooks and changes that punk is known for.
    Well, to talk more directly about the album, It's Frightening starts with it's best foot forward. "Percussion Gun" is a driving, pulsing, yet melodic tune. It took me a while to recall what a particular chord sounded like it came from, and then I realized it is exactly The National from their song "England". Listen to the two side by side and there is an uncanny resemblance. I guess the onus is on The National in this case, since "Percussion Gun" came out first, but wow. The next song "Rudie Falls" is more of the same goodness, but less to the front percussive gunning (or drumming). The melody is also not quite as lyrical, more upbeat and hoppy like the indie pop/rock of Hungry Kids of Hungary or Jukebox the Ghost. "They've Done Wrong / We've Done Wrong" is more Post-Punk, but White Rabbits puts their own sullen twist on it, kind of an emo minor key sound. I'd say this is their sound, what they do best, despite how good "Percussion Gun" is, and if they kept doing more of this I'd keep listening. Generally speaking, from the first three songs progressing towards the end, It's Frightening loses my interest a little, with the last track "Leave It at the Door" sort of a slow disappointing eerie and tuneless song, as if no hope is left or the singer has reached misery. It is just that some bands that have more of an upbeat style end with a great slow song to tie things up and this does not seem to accomplish that or fit in with the rest. I almost need to turn the volume up to hear what is going on even.
    I feel like I just wrote a particularly scathing review or something, but maybe that is just the mood I'm in today or this music just makes me feel emo, you let me know what you think. Regardless, definitely check out "Percussion Gun" under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks' and at least the first three tracks on their MySpace here or Facebook here.. If you like more, keep listening, that is my goal--to introduce you to music you might like. Enjoy!