Album Review: The Living End - 'White Noise'

When

I first heard TLE were releasing their fifth studio album I was super

excited, but a little hesitant. I thought that maybe they should quit

while they were still ahead (State Of Emergency was well received by

fans and critics alike). But then White Noise was released and I liked

what I heard.  

 White

noise begins with an enticing track ‘How Do We Know’ which welcomes

us back to where SOE left off. It’s memorable and full of those toe

tapping beats we’ve come to love from TLE. It’s basically everything

an album opener should be.  

The

album continues at this pace until track 3. Oh glorious track 3. “White

noise”, the title track and current single from the album displays

an upbeat, grooving riffs and catchy hook, which is pretty standard

stuff for TLE. And it’s a good song don’t get me wrong its just

after hearing it for the thousandth time on the radio it begins to..Uh...

get a little repetitive. Also I think TLE could have done better with

first single as musically there’s better songs on the album. 

Songs

like ‘Make The Call’ and Waiting ‘For The Silence’ keep the

pace, rocking a little harder each track. Andy Strachan’s drum work

is quiet impressive and knocks the beats out with ease. Scott Owen on

the double bass is fantastic as always but I would have liked to hear

it a little louder in mix, coz everyone loves a good ‘ole bass slap.

Chris Cheney, well that dude is in a league of his own. In my opinion

he’s one of the best Australian guitarists I ever heard, and when

this band are live fuck they’re good.  

Tracks

worth a mention here are ‘Loaded Gun’ and ‘Hey Hey disbeliever’.

These two tracks stuck out as mixing it up with a little old school

TLE, with just a tweak of new stuff. These two tracks are amazing, starting

of slow and building the song up. Loaded Gun begins with a pretty rad

intro whereas ‘Hey Hey Disbeliever’s’ chorus is catchy enough

to miss your turn off on the freeway whilst driving. These tracks show

the true talent that these guys possess. The album closes on a slow

note with ‘Sum of Us’, a kind of reggae-ish/ ska mix different from

anything else on the album. It’s slower than most of the other songs

but closes the album on a high with Cheney ripping out a most fitting

solo.  

So in conclusion The Living End are a pretty awesome band and considering

they were close to going on a permanent hiatus late ‘06 early ‘07

I’m defiantly pleased they’re back and with a decent album. Yes

this album maybe a little more on the pop side of that frenetic punk/rockabilly

energy we’re accustomed to but that’s musical growth for you.

1. How Do We Know
2. Raise The Alarm
3. White Noise
4. Moment In The Sun
5. Waiting For The

   Silence

6. Make The Call
7. Loaded Gun
8. Kid
9. 21^st