November 28, 2007
Austinist Album Review and Show Preview: The Black and White Years
Locals The Black and White Years have had their genre-blurring, squiggly synth rock compared to The Talking Heads so many times it should come as no surprise that Jerry Harrison of that band (not to mention a one-time member of The Modern Lovers) produced their self-titled debut album. As a producer, Harrison’s work can be seen all over the one-hit wonder bands of the '90s, from The Verve Pipe to The Crash Test Dummies, and his work with the The Black and White Years has the same clean sheen featured on albums by those bands, which at least sounded great even when the songs couldn't keep up.
Difficult to classify, The Black and White Years make electronic rock that isn’t especially sinister or epically poppy, distancing them from comparisons to nasties The Faint or pop forebears Duran Duran. If such a thing as a forward-thinking retro band exists, The Black and White Years are it. Their debut is all over the place with vintage synths and snippets of styles including new-wave and ska, but the songs stretch past comfortably resting their laurels in any one genre for too long. “Everyone” has a little ska mixed in with its rock, and Gary Newman’s fingerprints are all over “Evil Ape.” The trio, made of Scott Butler, Landon Thompson, and John Aldridge, also has veteran session drummer Steve Ferrone featured on the album, one of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers since 2005. Ferrone’s work is terrific, but straightforward to the point that it’s a little confusing as to why The Black and White Years tapped him for this project instead of just drafting their own drummer from the anxious folds of Austin’s overflowing masses of players.
The Black and White Years aren’t what you’ve heard before, evenly spiking their take on contemporary rock with enough surprises to keep their debut interesting for multiple listens. Harrison’s production sounds pristine as expected, and for those curious as to how the band’s carefully crafted sound compares with their live show, you’re in luck. The Black and White Years are playing Emo’s Lounge this Wednesday as part of the 101X Homegrown Series along with those dolled-up provocateurs The Laughing, as well as the Casio lovers of The Always Already.
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