White Wires, “III” (Dirtnap, 2012)Here’s one for fans of pure, formalist-classicist power-pop. These guys are able to boil all those “Teenline” comps into hyper-melodic rock’n’roll that rocks with fresh energy. Even the “boy-girl” thematics feel real-life here.Try 1, 2, 4, 117/12/12
Whitesnake, “Slide It In” (Geffen, 1984)A lot of this is already heading toward the band’s eventual destiny as bloated, synth-driven power-easy-listening arena swill, but the best cuts are such a perfect distillation of thunderously dead-from-the-neck-up heavy cock-rock that they trump even Spinal Tap’s parody/tribute. And these guys are ex-Deep Purple/Rainbow, so you know it sounds […]
Jane Wiedlin, “Jane Wiedlin” (IRS, 1985)Solo ddebut from the Go-Gos guitar goddess features her trademark high-pitched quirky keening over a fine batch of songs that run from glittering power-pop to cool synth numbers.Try 1/1, 2/ 1, 2/3, 2/ 4 (which features Billy Zoom of X on lead guitar!)1/23/14
Wild Flag, “Wild Flag” (Merge, 2011)Indie-vet supergroup featuring Carrie Brownstein (ex-Sleater-Kinney) and Mary Timony (ex-Helium), this leans more toward Brownstein’s end of the equation, precise, dynamic, hard-edged rock with new-wave overtunes. The killer hooks that were S-K’s trademark aren’t as out-front as I’d hoped, and I wish some of this evoked Helium’s woozy sweep, but […]
The Wild Tchoupitoulas, “The Wild Tchoupitoulas” (Mango, 1976).On one level, this is just classic New Orleans rock and roll, featuring assorted Nevilles and Meters, but it came out on a great reggae label at the height of reggae’s glory days for a reason: here NO’s influence on Jamaica comes back, for music whose loping, hypnotic […]
Wild Youth, “A Leopard Never Changes Her Spots” (Fresh Music, original recordings 1978-80).Supposedly South Africa’s first punk band, this is frenzied, snotty, fuzzed-out stuff in a Dolls/Stooges/Dead Boys vein. It sounds extra-exciting and unselfconscious in that first-punk-band-from-some-out-of-the-way-place way (cf. Saints, Enemy, Suicide Commandos, etc.).Try 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 214/19/13
Deniece Williams, “Niecy” (Arc/Columbia, 1982)Williams was one of the great singers of her time, a sweet, resonant soprano capable of swooping and spiraling with sinuous force, and this is one of her best sets, at a perfect spot between pop sparkle and r&b depth and presence.Try 1/ 1, 1/ 27/11/18
Winterfylleth, “The Threnody of Triumph.” (Candlelight, 2012)Metal in a rustic/eic vein; heavy and often frenetic, but with a fluid/lyrical feel not only on the acoustic-flavored stuff but even on the more hard-edged passages.Try 1, 5, 10.1/13/13
Wire, “The Black Session” (Pink Flag, 2012)In the first wave of UK punk, Wire simultaneously invented post-punk and hardcore on the album this label is named after. I was told their recent work returned to that sound, and this hard-hitting live album confirms it. This is Wire at their most primal – songs that twist […]
Withered Hand, “New Gods” (Slumberland, 2014)Scottish singer-songwriter’s epic encounter with the mystery of California and America, somewhat reminiscent in those terms of Van Morrison’s great “Saint Dominic’s Preview” LP, but it’s 40 years later and so the pop-folk references are Aztec Camera, Belle and Sebastian, etc. But there’s a toughness and sense of open space […]