The Whigs
Modern Creation
Reviewed by: Rebecca Robinson
Modern Creation, the newest album by The Whigs, begins with the sound of an “old rock” band that would have been a perfect fit for the lineup of an 80s rock concert. The youthful vocals add a modern touch, transporting the listener back to high school car rides spent blasting the demo tapes of local punk-rock garage bands, but with much less screaming and voice cracking. The upbeat instrumentation offsets, and sometimes overshadows, the mature lyrics, giving each song a depth and complexity that will hook any listener and giving the album a serious chance. The Whigs have definitely polished and matured their garage band roots without obscuring them, although some of the later, soft rock songs on this album try to ignore them.
Taken in its entirety, the album plays more like a movie soundtrack than an album designed to stand on its own two feet. The varying tones of each song definitely show the broad range that The Whigs can effortlessly cover, but the lack of transition between the songs leaves the listener floundering and searching for some context to fit the progression of songs into. Regardless of the confusion, it is clear that the modern trend of three to four minute songs does not benefit The Whigs. Each song feels more like a sound byte than a complete piece and leaves the listener eager for more. Perhaps The Whigs need to fully embrace the rock era and bring back the six minute song. Their music, and fans, can only benefit.
Rating: Listenable
