Sea Wolf – White Water, White Bloom

Okay, you guys. What’s with the wolves?

Seriously, what does everyone else know that I don’t? I mean, wolves are awesome. I agree. But, come on. Wolfmother. Wolf Parade. Los Lobos (Spanish!). Wolf Eyes. We Are Wolves. And Fleet Foxes, I have my eye on you. I understand that all these guys want to evoke the spirit of something dangerous, lone, somber, and cool into their band names but at what cost?!

But here’s the darndest thing, all those bands – with the possible exception of Wolf Eyes – are really good! Maybe the spirit of the wolf is more potent then I give her credit for. At any rate, Alex Brown Church sensed that a little wolvery would do him some good too, and Sea Wolf was born. I’ll quibble about the name more (not here), but guess what…Sea Wolf is good, too!

I mean, they’re pretty good. They’re good in that bittersweet, autumnal way that most wolf-y bands are. Their latest, White Water, White Bloom, starts out fantastic, with the (admittedly Arcade Fire-rich) “Wicked Blood.” Intoxicating piano chords buttress Church’s swelling vocals and all building to a broiling finale, achieving an explosive quality rarely felt in indie rock. It’s a great song that sets the bar awfully high for the rest of the album.

But the rest of White Water isn’t quite up to the job. Church’s evocative vocals and twiggy, naturalistic lyrics are pleasing throughout, and the instrumentation is superb. But, it’s just impossible to listen to this and not be reminded of a dozen other bands that you’re already in love with. Band of Horses, Death Cab, Bright Eyes, Rooney, the Decemberists…you know what I’m talking about (this girl knows what I’m talking about). It’s a proven genre – prevalent in any given high school, and the New Moon soundtrack just turned it into a viable gravy train. But the party is getting a little crowded, and Sea Wolf is a lot better at fitting in than standing out.

White Water, White Bloom’s devolution is systematic. Track-by-track, things tumble into further and further into same-ness. A touch of originality, a surprise riff, a something different would have served the disk immensely. As it is, it’s a monument to what might have been. Granted, it’s also a monument to what might-still-be. Sea Wolf has the talent to do great things, they’ll just have to be willing to brave some unexplored waters first.

Tagged as: Indie Rock, Los Angeles

Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.