The Living End - White Noise (2008)

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Ah, a lyric sheet! I can't count the number of albums I've got in my collection that haven't had one. I immediately start to think the band has nothing important to say, since they're hesitant to put their words down on paper.

But The Living End is one band that's never had that problem.

"White Noise" is the most consistently brilliant collection of songs The Living End has released to date. Chris Cheney's morphing guitar style has unleashed a new aspect of the band, lending contrast to the persistent rockabilly stylings the band has displayed in the past.

I actually believe Cheney has become a bit of a guitar god here.

The lyrics on this album are highly relevant to how I've been feeling for a while now and I know the songs will resonate with many people in the world who appreciate actual opinions from their musicians instead of songs about lip gloss or sexy backs.

War, intolerance, apathy, it's all here. You have to appreciate albums with a bit of intelligence, and this does the trick. It's like comparing a Cosmopolitan to a Tequila Slammer, the New Beetle to the original VW... you get the point.

By now you've probably heard the single, White Noise, which although quite downright fab, isn't the best song on the album.

There's nothing worse than buying an album that doesn't live up to the single and this album, thankfully, is chock full 'o' goodness. Think the passion of The Clash, the style of The Jam, a teaspoon of Stray Cats mixed in there for a laugh, and a dash of screeching Bon Scott thrown in for good measure.

It's one tasty dish.

Make the Call and Loaded Gun are the 'knife to my throat-have to choose' favourites. Make the Call is like nothing you have heard before from The Living End : lots of squealing guitar noise, very AC/ DC more determined than ever.

It's good when bands surprise you, and "White Noise" does.

But it isn't just about the sound. The lyrics to Loaded Gun highlight the implications of police-states, a phenomenon like something from 1984 come about throughout the world as a result of Machiavellian political maneuvering occurring in defence of 'freedom':

And the police report said
We had no choice left
We did what we were forced to do
He was sweating it out
With a back pack on
Who knows what he might have done
We did the only thing that
We know how to do.

The band even channels Bob Marley in the track Sum of Us :

God help those who don't help the others
Some of us have more rights than the others
Some of us have to fight more than the others do
We all have our time to live
But we don't have time for each other.

Sometimes, bands/musicians/models-come-actors-come-vocalists sell a lot of albums based on image and popularity (or commercial endorsements), but more than often lack the talent. However, The Living End sells albums because they have talent, passion, determination, and a spirit that forces you to take an interest in what's happening in the world.

And I'm glad they're here to do it because frankly, the music industry needs a kick in the arse at the moment... and so do we.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

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