The Provocative Whites

Artist: The Provocative Whites

CD: Evolym

Home: Tucson, Arizona

Style: Rock

Quote: "A band to be respected for its hybridization within the rock genre."

By Michael Haley

The Provocative Whites, on its second CD Evolym, is a band to be respected for its hybridization within the rock genre. The nine-song album combines elements of 70s Punk, 90s Indie Rock, and 60s Rock (Kinks-style). The record is a marble index of engaging musical dexterity.

The Provocative Whites are not self-conscious, and the band meshes. The music is unstilted. Featured on the record is a smashing, thriving, and driving drumbeat, as well as a crescendo of sassy guitar riffs. This uplifting instrumental combination works particularly well when the band emphasizes a seminal line in a song. Additionally, The Provocative Whites makes smooth and fine use of change-ups in rhythm on Evolym, an asset for the band, a present for the listener.

What the band could make better use of is vocal clarity and vocal swagger. Their plain-spoken lyrics such as "Could you live a happy life knowing what's in store for you?" on the tune "All of This," are too often chopped and garbled, overshadowed by the band's very competent instrumentation. A classic disc like X-Ray Spex's Germ Free Adolescents is a prototype of vocal sonority and clarity, actually sensational in its dagger-like punctuation that way.

When lead singer Mike Rowden is in clear and powerful voice, as demonstrated on the cut "Radio Friendly," the group's taut tunes reach a high level.

"Radio Friendly" is top notch as it deftly climaxes over and over. "I wanna, I wanna, I wanna tell you what I mean, tell you what you mean to me...but instead I'm going to keep this radio friendly," this enthralling song declares unabashedly.

There is plenty of craftsmanship and resourcefulness on Evolym. It will be interesting to watch The Provocative Whites' evolution as the band rounds its vocal edges and refines its signature sensibility.

Indie-Music ProfileIndie-Music Profile - Michael Haley

The Provocative Whites - EVOLYM


Written by Andy
Monday, 11 May 2009

I'm really digging this album by the PROVOCATIVE WHITES. It's great. It brings me back to the days when indie bands really knew how to rock. It's real rock 'n roll. All the songs on this album are really well-thought-out. It's as though these guys didn't just jump into a studio, record some shit, tell the mixer to make it amazing, and sit back and smoke their cigarettes. I mean, they COULD HAVE, I suppose, but I find that highly unlikely.

This album is good all the way through. Songs like GONE, ALL OF THIS, and RADIO FRIENDLY kick ass. This is the kind of band that know what they want in their music. They've taken time with each song. If you're a fan of bands such as the Pixies, Against Me, and Alkaline Trio then this is the band that needs to be in your collection. Hell, go see 'em live. I'm sure it's a great show.

Visit their damn website!
Last Updated ( Monday, 04 May 2009 ) - Andy

THE PROVOCATIVE WHITES: "Evolym" (CD Baby)
RELEASED? April 25th
SOUNDS LIKE? When you see that an album has been engineered by Steve Albini you put it to one side. You put it in the 'treat' pile, the pile where you know, because you've learnt from years of late night shit-sifting, what's going to be all fun and no work. "Evolym" is all of that and more. For the busy, time constrained people, we simply say buy this now. For the more time-rich we say buy this now and stop lying around, you lazy fuckers. We say these things because The Provocative Whites blend Frank Black with Barry White. Of course not, The Provocative Whites actually blend Frank Black and some kind of American take on Ray Davies who's been fronting Lynnrd Skynnrd, for a giggle, obviously.
IS IT ANY GOOD? You can't learn Karate from a book.
WHERE IS IT? www.myspace.com/theprovocativewhites - Unpeeled.net

For fans of the Pixies, Weezer, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and domestic beer. The Provocative Whites may not be the biggest self-promoting, egotistical band in town; they just play damn good rock and roll and feature two of the best guitarists around. (Not in a boring, masturbatory way either.) They're not going showing up at bars downtown like a gang, schmoozing girls in a dark corner. They're back at the practice space, getting ready to kick your band's ass.

- James Hudson (tucsonscene.com)

Locals The Provocative Whites know how to channel their rock influences into songs that sound like fresh versions of the things we loved about '90s-era indie rock--pop choruses, guitars used for every sound imaginable, moments of limb-shaking exuberance and plenty of screaming, both from the vocals and guitars. They're also one of those rare bands that showcases the individual styles of its members--guitarist and lead singer Mike Rowden never overshadows the talents of guitarist Kane Flint, bassist Tadj Roi and drummer James Few. A general feeling of lovely musical nostalgia is created on this self-titled EP.
It begins in the whoa-ohs on "Family Values," and the bassline and flourishes on "Ordinary Mediocrities," but the album starts picking up serious momentum with "Fear of the Belt." "Stranger Than True" and "Southern Cocaine" pack the kind of hooks one can only liken to drugs; "Can't Go Home Again" is a brief bump in the rock--it doesn't stretch much beyond the three-chord punk riff thing--but by "OCDDD," the guitar stylings of Flint are at full throttle, and Few's drums go metal for "Cool Jimmy." "Stuck Abroad" slips an extra something into your drink, and "Tragic One" shows that, despite some of the other songs, Rowden is capable of some creative and thoughtful lyrics. Somewhere during the album, The Provocative Whites start sounding less like other bands, and more like themselves.
- Annie Holoub (Tucson Weekly)