Album review: White Denim record 12 out today is a passionate return to form
Austin-bred musician and producer James Petralli moved from his home base of Austin to Los Angeles in 2020, taking his songwriting vehicle, White Denim, with him and started a new journey in Southern California. Since uprooting his Austindie empire for the West Coast, Austin live appearances for the group have proven sparse after making the Pasadena area his home. To local Austin diehards, live performances require undivided attention, patience, and a hunger for musical liberation. 11 years removed from indie breakout releases like Corsicana Lemonade, the ever-changing rock act is chipping away in the lands of DIY rock and roll in which they have existed. Since the release of 2023’s Raze Regal & White Denim Inc. in collaboration with guitarist Regal, who also plays in Austin staple Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band, fans have been eagerly awaiting the newly California-based musician’s next entry in the long-running indie rock song machine. Fortunately for White Denim loyalists, the time has arrived for the Austin to Los Angeles band to release their 12th full-length album, fittingly titled 12. This newest batch, engineered by the singer and guitarist himself and mixed by former drummer Josh Block and mastered by Dallas-Fort Worth musician Jordan “Jorts” Richardson, is Petralli’s first in his new SoCal studio, and feels like a passionate return to form.
The fable of White Denim is a tough one. From rotating band members, a plethora of tunes, unpredictable live performances, and a zest for changing things up, there’s no telling what the true next move is going to be or if the band will continue to make music amid an often tumultuous, yet delightfully fruitful path over their near two-decade tenure. The first single released, “Light On,” gave fans a taste of what was to come, showing a natural love of music catching fire yet again with what feels like a callout to the ones he’s left behind. The dancy, funky chords that pump throughout make a statement for the next chapter, showing Petralli’s utmost love for creating and nothing but. “Ecolining” sounds like a classic White Denim track, with the noodling guitar, jittery drums, and forward-thinking lyricism locking the listener in for what is a back-to-business expedition for White Denim and the figures that surround the frontman for yet another full-length studio outing.
“Flash Bare Ass” shows the Austin-born outfit appearing more jovial and whimsical than ever before, channeling that of Ween and The Flaming Lips. The lyrics across this track show emotional growth and a refreshing change for a new lease on a long-fought battle in the volatile world of music. If it’s going to be hard, why not just have fun with it? This track’s introspective yet humorous approach makes it an early highlight, showing signs of uncertainty that create a relatable undertone. The vocoder that cuts through the anthemic ditty is reminiscent of Mr. Blue Sky from Electric Light Orchestra. The vocal effect pulses through as the music fades out, giving listeners a last hurrah as the most upbeat moment moves on to the next offering.
The candlelit jazz club antics of “Look Good” bode well with the backing vocals that maintain the improvisational vibes that persist across 12, making for a front-row seat with bandleader Petralli as he continues to unfold the next chapter of his storied career. The crisp backing vocals from Denver singer and songwriter Jessie Payo and Austin-based singer Tameca Jones are a sensuous highlight, providing fellow musical partners that give the cut an angelic choir vibe. The ballroom auras continue on “Second Dimension,” allowing the listener to bask in the intoxicating harmonies while enjoying the Denim ensemble accompanying them on one of the record’s strongest pieces.
“I Still Exist” features twinkly acoustic guitars mixed with fluttering flutes that show a modernized White Denim that has them cooking on what they do best. What’s previously referred to as a “Freewheeling Indie Rock group from Austin” is focused on a new beginning, a refined one at that. This trend continues on “We Can Move Along,” a relaxed yet dialed tune that shows the Texas-California musician longing for something he’s been searching for throughout his musical journey as a touring musician for 20 damn years running. The falsetto howling that opens “Swinging Door” is right on brand, showcasing the unbeatable range that presents flavors of Soul and R&B in the vein of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.
The final leg of the record feels like anything but a swan song for White Denim.”Hand Out Moving” and “Precious Child” works like a French wine charcuterie pairing; on the former, the auxiliary violin instrumentation displays a thirst for multiple musical contributors beyond the current touring band. The laundry list of collaborators in the WD discography has continued to grow to this day and works to push the envelope for the band’s relevance as they close out their 18th year. The record’s final number provides a satisfying closing statement for 12, leaving space for listeners to hang on for more in Petralli’s wild ride as the bodies of work keep flowing to their ears as the music keeps coming. The wading horns and slow-paced piano arrangements make for a spectral statement of maintaining a childlike enthusiasm to keep your creativity a genuine certainty, leaving room for plenty more to come.
12 will be released everywhere on December 6 with physical media available via the White Denim website.
Featured photo by Charlie Weinmann courtesy of White Denim
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