The Provocative Whites: Best of Tucson's Alt Indie Rock Bands
Posted on: September 6, 2011
"Sugar Plum Kerosene" - Powerful Songs from Tucson Alt-Indie Rock Band The Provocative Whites
The Provocative Whites from Tucson AZ develop their own individual mixture of rock, indie and alternative music and take inspiration from such greats as Nirvana, Modest Mouse and Smashing Pumpkins.
Having completed their 2nd recording, EVOLYM (engineered by Steve Albini in Chicago), The Provocative Whites resolved to remain in their hometown of Tucson, Arizona, to create their 3rd release, Sugar Plum Kerosene with Fernando Rivas from OG7 Recordings. Its their most experimental release up to now, spanning a variety of musical styles and refining their sound, colour and texture within tonality. They feared no limitations, and simply wished for the new music to be strong and structured, and most significantly abundant with meaning and passion.
At just under thirty minutes and only eight tracks long, Sugar Plum Kerosene does just that, starting off instantaneously with Track 1, “Photo of the Dead.” It could be regarded a look back to earlier Provocative Whites songs, with it’s energetic, clean verse and distorted chorus shape similar to the likes of Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and the Pixies, but still textured like Modest Mouse, Pavement or The Smashing Pumpkins. Song 2, “Lucy’s Allure”, is just as hard-rock a piece as there is, with verses and choruses that conjur Sonic Youth, while the breakdown leans more towards Black Sabbath, along with modern rockers Queens of the Stone Age and The Toadies.
Track 3, “Mr. Hyde”, ventures in to a much more bluesy terrain, with its slide guitar intro really in the vein of Led Zeppelin, yet bringing a splash of Soundgarden or Stone Temple Pilots, which is A MUST for all headphone junkies. Song 4, “No Sodium”, theoretically could be viewed as the title track of the record with it’s massive lyrical substance. The music is a slow methodical build-up with a definite sonic payoff for fans of Pavement, Pixies or Smashing Pumpkins. Song five, the abbreviated “Jacket”, features dueling guitars enhancing each other perfectly while both maintaining the characteristics of a perfect hook, and will be quickly embraced by devotees of Modest Mouse or The Smashing Pumpkins. Track six, “Bird in the Hand”, concerns the Provocative Whites west coast tour, and though it is ripe with inside jokes, there’s nothing funny about its powerful and aggressive drive. This track is certainly inspired by the work of Steve Albini-era Nirvana or later Soundgarden. The lp closers, “Undearly Departed”/“Dearly Unhearted”, may very well be considered one song as it moves from its Led Zeppelin-esque mandolin introduction right to a triumphant “Bends” era Radiohead ending, all the while weaving an Electric Ladyland vibe inside and out to finally form a sound all its own. From beginning to end, Sugar Plum Kerosene continually grows and extends through anything and everything that makes this Tucson alt-indie rock band great. The album is available on Amazon and iTunes, and the CD of "Sugar Plum Kerosene" can be purchased Here.
The Provocative Whites join a roster of musicians, including Tucson Musicians Early Black and HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS, from various genres on the Expat Records label. Expat Records is a label and music publishing company representing artists worldwide. Expat is unique in its creation and creative use of advanced software systems and web 2.0 technologies to market and promote its artists. For more information please visit the official Expat Records website.
The Provocative Whites from Tucson AZ develop their own individual mixture of rock, indie and alternative music and take inspiration from such greats as Nirvana, Modest Mouse and Smashing Pumpkins.
Having completed their 2nd recording, EVOLYM (engineered by Steve Albini in Chicago), The Provocative Whites resolved to remain in their hometown of Tucson, Arizona, to create their 3rd release, Sugar Plum Kerosene with Fernando Rivas from OG7 Recordings. Its their most experimental release up to now, spanning a variety of musical styles and refining their sound, colour and texture within tonality. They feared no limitations, and simply wished for the new music to be strong and structured, and most significantly abundant with meaning and passion.
At just under thirty minutes and only eight tracks long, Sugar Plum Kerosene does just that, starting off instantaneously with Track 1, “Photo of the Dead.” It could be regarded a look back to earlier Provocative Whites songs, with it’s energetic, clean verse and distorted chorus shape similar to the likes of Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and the Pixies, but still textured like Modest Mouse, Pavement or The Smashing Pumpkins. Song 2, “Lucy’s Allure”, is just as hard-rock a piece as there is, with verses and choruses that conjur Sonic Youth, while the breakdown leans more towards Black Sabbath, along with modern rockers Queens of the Stone Age and The Toadies.
Track 3, “Mr. Hyde”, ventures in to a much more bluesy terrain, with its slide guitar intro really in the vein of Led Zeppelin, yet bringing a splash of Soundgarden or Stone Temple Pilots, which is A MUST for all headphone junkies. Song 4, “No Sodium”, theoretically could be viewed as the title track of the record with it’s massive lyrical substance. The music is a slow methodical build-up with a definite sonic payoff for fans of Pavement, Pixies or Smashing Pumpkins. Song five, the abbreviated “Jacket”, features dueling guitars enhancing each other perfectly while both maintaining the characteristics of a perfect hook, and will be quickly embraced by devotees of Modest Mouse or The Smashing Pumpkins. Track six, “Bird in the Hand”, concerns the Provocative Whites west coast tour, and though it is ripe with inside jokes, there’s nothing funny about its powerful and aggressive drive. This track is certainly inspired by the work of Steve Albini-era Nirvana or later Soundgarden. The lp closers, “Undearly Departed”/“Dearly Unhearted”, may very well be considered one song as it moves from its Led Zeppelin-esque mandolin introduction right to a triumphant “Bends” era Radiohead ending, all the while weaving an Electric Ladyland vibe inside and out to finally form a sound all its own. From beginning to end, Sugar Plum Kerosene continually grows and extends through anything and everything that makes this Tucson alt-indie rock band great. The album is available on Amazon and iTunes, and the CD of "Sugar Plum Kerosene" can be purchased Here.
The Provocative Whites join a roster of musicians, including Tucson Musicians Early Black and HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS, from various genres on the Expat Records label. Expat Records is a label and music publishing company representing artists worldwide. Expat is unique in its creation and creative use of advanced software systems and web 2.0 technologies to market and promote its artists. For more information please visit the official Expat Records website.
Article Wall
Let everyone know your opinion on this article by writing a review!
There are currently no reviews for this article