White Denim

In 2011, Austin quartet White Denim stood at a crossroads—one visibly marked by the fact that the band was no longer a trio. Fourth member Austin Jenkins’ presence on D often frees frontman James Petralli to flex his muscular vocals, but their twin-guitar attack has benefits as well as disadvantages. The expanded lineup explores knotty, prog-damaged territory on tracks like “Drug” and “Anvil Everything,” but D feels most transitional when the band releases the throttle and indulges its inner Allman Brothers. It’s not the bizarrely satisfying bouillabaisse of its predecessor, 2009’s Fits, but D nevertheless shows a White Denim with the technical skills to match its in-concert flash.

Updated 04/12/2012