ALBUM REVIEW: WHITE LIES - RITUAL

Without calling White Lies’ debut album a masterpiece, as that might sound like exaggerating, one should agree it was a promising debut, and it’s not a mistake to say that almost each song of the album had a single potential. Given these circumstances, it was only natural for fans and reviewers to expect something similar, maybe even better, from their sophomore. The release of the first single, Bigger Than Us, did nothing but raise everyone’s hopes. Everything about it was simply euphoric, especially the obsessive electronic beats and the “I-can’t-help-but-sing-along” chorus, and I’m sure that thoughts like “Oh my God, I bet this is going to be epic” crossed the minds of many.

The first song on the album, Is Love, does nothing but prove the above mentioned thoughts were correct. It’s pure synth madness, it scratches your ears in the most pleasant way possible and it’s so cool that it makes you completely forgive and forget the lyrics (about which we’ll talk later). Strangers, the next one, is pop at a really high level, with a half nostalgic, half determined sound that will most likely make you hopelessly fall in love with it, even if not from the first sight (actually, listening). Next in line is Bigger Than Us. Enjoy it and then you are allowed to push pause and start searching for other songs in your music library. Does it sound mean? Maybe, but that’s the only thing which will stop you from get bored and/or fall asleep.

It’s not like the whole album is awful beyond imagination. The boys tried to experiment musically, by using and abusing synths, and it really served them well up until a certain point. But somehow you cease to enjoy them towards the middle of the album, because you cannot sense any sparkling there, because there’s nothing to catch your attention and keep it awake. It seems repetitive, even when it’s not. You’ll most likely think something like “This song is okay, this one too, this one too…” and overall this will make the release far from being okay.

They also tried a different lyrical approach. That might sound good, considering the lyrics about death, suicide, murder, afterlife, “Let’s grow old together and die at the same time” from their previous release. They tried to be more creative, and they actually somehow managed it. You’ll probably try for hours and hours to find a meaning in lines like “You went where the horses cry, you never went that way with me before” before figuring it out that perhaps this has no meaning at all. And when they’re not obscure, they’re cheesy – like when Harry McVeigh sings “I’m falling like rain for you”. Seriously, what were they thinking?

If Ritual had been a three-tracks EP, it would have been just great. Being a ten tracks album that sounds like a compilation of poor B-sides with three singles on it does not help at all. Without being a complete failure in terms of music, this release is (especially in comparison with their debut album) grey, plain, a nice idea with a rather bad result. Just like its cover. And under these circumstances, the association with Joy Division and Interpol can only make you smile ironically. Sorry, guys, maybe next time.

Find this album at: Amazon CD | Amazon MP3 | eMusic

~ Raluca Bicu

White Lies - Bigger Than Us