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Whitestarr
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Luv Machine
Contango Records
Release: 5/16/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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Question: What do you call a mediocre,
southern rock band
from Los Angeles?
Answer: Whitestarr
Whitestarr make their debut with Luv Machine
from Contango Records. At first glance the silver album
cover with band photo gives a vibe that this is gonna be a
feel-good kinda record. Well, as much as I hate to admit
this...I have been known to be wrong from
time-to-time.
The band's sound is similar to that of the Black Crows with a
dash of Kid Rock (the more bluesy and "southern" side of
him.). I've been a fan of Kid Rock since my younger days
and still dig some of his stuff, but I've outgrown him for the
most part. As far as the Black Crows are concerned, I could
really care less. This band takes both styles and blends them
together to make a tolerable product.
Most of the songs bleed together but a few stand out, like
"Gimme' A Light," an up-tempo, party-driven song about
livin' fast and "Burnin' your candle at both ends." I can relate
to that so I'm down with what this song's about.
The band covers the old rhythm and blues song, "Use Me" by
Bill Withers - it left me completely unimpressed. While the
original version of this song has and will continue to
withstand the test of time, I'll forget this version as soon as I
finish my review. Though I give the band props for takin' a
stab at it, in my ears it comes up about as flat as an audible
pancake. I'm sure there's no such thing but if there was this
song would properly define it.
"Welcome To Malibu" has a boogie-woogie feel to it and
lyrics like "Goin' home in a body bag and goin' to
rehab/Welcome to Malibu." It's a much needed lift a little too
late into the disc.
Luv Machine is a decent record but far from
being anything special. This album is so average it's
uncanny. An outstanding review is easy to write because the
music grabs you and takes you some place, allowing your
thoughts to go crazy with joy. A shitty album brings out the
worst in you, and the hatred for it just spills out like some
sort of creative cleansing process. An album like this is
difficult because it's just so damn humdrum. I guess in some
strange way this album has left me speechless but it ain't
because it rocked my socks off. I just can't review the same
song thirteen times and make each comment exciting. |
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