Released: January 19th 2009

The new British “it” band White Lies has been compared to many others, Joy Division chief amongst them. Interpol and Editors also come to mind, themselves hailed as Joy Division knock-offs, but each earning a place in the hearts of music lovers everywhere. At first listen, White Lies does not seem to be any different than the procession of those other depressing, monotone songsters, but if you give them a chance, they worm their way in with a few well-placed songs and some great lyrics.

“Death” starts the record off on the right foot, both thematically and musically. Harry McVeigh sings quite cheerfully, if flatly, about the fear of dying while the music pounds in time to a heartbeat. The chorus of catchy breakout single, “To Lose My Life” — “Let’s grow old together / and die at the same time” — sounds quite romantic in its own morbid way as long as you don’t use it in the pursuit of love, which is bound to fail miserably. “Farewell to the Fairground” has the makings of a hit with yet another catchy chorus and some downer lyrics. “E.S.T.” roars large and anthemic, the guitar weaving a cool melody in the quieter parts, while “From the Stars” recounts the story of a funeral in minute detail of pitch-perfect storytelling.

Previously published on The Owl Mag.