The Whitest Boy Alive
Rules
Asound / Bubbles (2009)
Why you'll love it - Mellow funky-soul tunes
Why you'll hate it - sounds like elevator music
Continuing two weeks in a row of more European releases that I was late on spotting: Erlend Øye's funky experiment, The Whitest Boy Alive, released their sophomore effort back in March. You may have heard Erlend through his modestly composed outfit, Kings of Convenience.
This album is basically version 2.0 of the first album, Dreams (2006). It's got more colorful dance moments and moodier emotional moments. I absolutely love the keyboard on this album! Even a buzzkill like me can't help but bob my head to the keyboard and tap my foot to the bass. The funk and dance style is not overplayed like say in a Red Hot Chilli Peppers way, but matured like Tom Jones.
In some ways, this album was what I was hoping last year's Zazen Boys 4 was going to be more like. Of course I wasn't expecting Mukai Shutoku to be as vocally restrained as Erlend, but it feels as if the modern attempt at funk with well structured synth loops and well paced bass lines has totally hit his mark here.
Rules is an enjoyable album that doesn't lose steam through all 11 tracks. The catchy as all hell dance songs are well complimented by emotional breaks, and neither spectrum feels hammy or tacked on.
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