Matt Suggs has been in the indie rock game for a long time. Starting with
Butterglory in the mid-'90s, then moving on with a couple of fine, understated solo albums in the early 2000s, he has turned out nothing but high-quality product. His new group,
White Whale, continues the run of excellent releases. Teaming with ex-
Get Up Kid Robert Pope and three members of
the Higher Burning Fire (John Anderson, Zack Holland, Dustin Than Kinsey),
Suggs leaves understatement behind on
WWI. The album is a larger-than-indie record that blends elements of folk, prog, post-rock, electronica, and chamber pop together, throws them mixed up on the big screen, and comes up sounding (mostly) like no one other than
White Whale. The epic scale and ambition of the record can be summed up in one line -- "Fidget and Fudge" expertly channels mid-'70s
Pink Floyd. How you feel about that will either ratchet your interest up or send you running for the aisles. If you stick around you will find fine songwriting from
Suggs and band on aching ballads like "Forgive the Forgiven," "One Prayer," and "The Admiral," as well as thrillingly dynamic rockers like "We're Just Temporary Ma'am" and first-class melodic indie rock tunes like "Yummyman Farewell." You'll also find an exciting level of sonic experimentation. Indeed, it is the care they put into the sound of the album that keeps them from slipping over the line into
Coldplay or
Keane territory on the ballads and from possible overindulgence on the longer songs. They use dub techniques, squelchy synths that pop up out of nowhere, cheesy drum machines, and varied guitar tones to keep listeners on their toes and to help puncture any pretensions that might otherwise creep in. It's hard to be too high and mighty when at any second a synth that sounds like a refugee from a Chicory Tip 45 might waltz in. It isn't easy to strike the right balance between ambition and emotion, scale and humanity;
White Whale manage it with ease on
WWI. Hats off to
Matt Suggs for keeping his streak alive. ~ Tim Sendra