What you say
No-one has reviewed Fort Nightly by White Rabbits yet.
What we say
 This record left our BRIAN D feeling ecstatic.
Right, back at work, a fresh day, all toasted and tea'd up. I'll begin with White Rabbits and a CD album on Fierce Panda named 'Fort Nightly'. I was immediately endeared to this rollicking album the minute I walked through the door. It's got that grace, class & power that you get from seasoned New York bands. A melting pot of styles, you get stately yet fun pop rock with piano florishes that reminds me slightly of my faves The Walkmen but much less booze addled. I hate to say it but they sound really accomplished, taking in light carribean touches, 70s AOR (in a 10cc/Field Music fashion) and a fresh, euphoria packed attitude to timeless alt rock. I can hear hints of everything from Arcade Fire, Keane, The Beatles & Dismemberment Plan as these classic, addictive & multi faceted tunes glide by, caressing your ears. Best thing i've heard on Fierce Panda for yonks!!!!!
What the label says:
** WHITE RABBITS are from Brooklyn, New York. They consist of Greg Roberts (guitar / vox), Steve Patterson (piano / vox), Alex Even (guitar / vox), Adam Russell (bass), Matt 'The Duck' Clark (drums) and Jamie Levinson (drums). They form a veritable 12-legged groove machine gunning its way through the history of pop and swapping instruments whenever the mood takes it. As suggested by the presence of two drummers and the gear-sharing behaviour the vibe is chaotic, convivial and, as also suggested by the fact that until recently the boys all shared a house, feverishly communal.
** 'Fort Nightly' is the debut album by WHITE RABBITS and already the good surfers of www.thetripwire.com have voted it best long player of 2007 in the United States. Fair play, too - consider that over on www.myspace.com/whiterabbits they say they are influenced by (and we quote) "William Tell's Second Arrow Cricket Club" and it becomes obvious that we aren't dealing with yet more drooling sub-post-Libertines-esque types here. Rather, WHITE RABBITS, alongside cheery contemporaries Vampire Weekend and Harlem Shakes, are representing a more intelligent new wave from New York. Typically then 'Fort Nightly' itself is frequently mischievous, mysterious and marvelous in a groovy upbeat sort of way, like they are throwing a big house party and it isn't actually bobbins or going to end in a punch-up at 3.00am.
** WHITE RABBITS themselves would like it to be known that they endorse the sound of classic songwriters from years gone by (indeed one of the UK release's bonus tracks, 'Beehive State' is a Randy Newman staple). Casual onlookers may be able to pick through the raffish pianos and roguish rhythms of 'Fort Nightly' and also spot the sonics of 10cc, The Walkmen, Bow Wow Wow, Cold War Kids and - at one particularly splendid point - the ghostly echo of 'Ghost Town' by The Specials. But we won't spoil your fun any more than we already have.
** Those same casual onlookers may recall that 2007 saw them talked about as one of the hottest bands of SxSW. The summer saw the UK release of 'The Plot' / 'Kid On My Shoulders' on lovely 7" vinyl on Young Turks, which gave WHITE RABBITS a fine excuse to take their live thrills all the way from the inferno of White Heat to the hillocks of Glastonbury. Despite the lack of radio plugger, the single enjoyed several plays from Radio One’s Zane Lowe and band were invited to record a session for Radio Two’s Dermot O’Leary. On the press side there were appreciate words from Time Out, the Guardian and The Observer. They had a feature in the Fly and were part of a couple of NME pieces: Radar and best new bands for 2008.
** On returning to the US, they were invited to play the Letterman show and their year ended with a sold-out show at New York's Bowery Ballroom. January kicks off 2008 in fine style as they hit the highways of America in support of The Walkmen. A return to Europe is being plotted for the spring and, frankly, many of us can't wait...
TRACKLISTING
1. 'Kid On My Shoulders'
2. 'The Plot'
3. 'Dinner Party'
4. 'Navy Wives'
5. 'While We Go Dancing'
6. 'I Used To Complain, Now I Don't'
7. 'Take A Walk Around The Table'
8. 'March Of The Camels'
9. 'Fort Nightly'
10. 'Reprise'
11. 'Tourist Trap'
12. 'Cotillion Blues' (bonus track)
13. 'Beehive State' (bonus track)
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