Black Pussy - On Blonde

There's a stonewashed seventies vibe almost all over this recording. From the hypnotically repetively catchy fuzzed out opener "Marijuana". "Can't Take Anymore" contains a Queens of The Stone Age feel similar to that of the previously reviewed White Orange. So it comes as no great surprise that members of White Orange are also in Black Pussy.

"Swim" is a distorted laidback slow burner and it's possible to hear the joint being passed around the band and to anyone else in the studio. After the squealing of tyres "Blow Some Steam Off" keeps its promise. "Ain't Talking about Love" grooves and guitar wails like Brant Bjork's solo material. "Indiana" has a more laidback groove but once again it's clear that Brant Bjork is considered the almighty for the song's template.

"On Blonde" is great for anyone out there searching for six songs with a seventies stoner vibe. My only complaint is that this release needs to be longer. The band name means I can end with a smutty innuendo but I'll leave it blank so that you dear intelligent creative reader can insert your own.

http://smalltakeover.blogspot.com/2011/09/black-pussy-on-blonde.html

Portland's White Orange Have Very Strong Feelings About Black Sabbath's Volume 4

By Kelly Dearmore Tue., Mar. 13 2012 at 9:00 AM

 

While Austin will have a more concentrated amount of bands over the course of the next several days, we'll see just as many in the Metroplex. One of the bands that rarely trek through Texas but will be hitting ATX for a few shows later this week is Portland sludge metal outfit White Orange. Before dealing with the wild-assedness of SXSW, the quartet will play tonight at 2826 Arnetic. After giving the group's excellent self-titled released a spin or two, it's obvious why they collectively chose Black Sabbath's Volume 4 as their desert island album.

If given only one album to be stranded on a desert island with, which would it be?
Volume 4 by Black Sabbath.
Why that specific album?
We picked this record because rock & roll may have peaked with it, and you can still hear new bands biting it. It's also amazing because you can hunt large mammals or fuck sweet girls while listening to it. It's also great to throw on at weddings and funerals (see "Changes").
What's your favorite song(s) on the record?
The entire record is amazing, but "Supernaut" takes the cake. That song is like the friend you had in 8th grade who stole his stepdad's Old Crow and bought weed off the Mexicans and brought it all to school to make lunch a little bit cooler. And he never got caught.
When did you first hear the record?
I don't remember the first time I heard it, but I do remember when Beavis & Butthead watched the video of Ozzy & Lita Ford and Butthead said, "You may have scared somebody with that face 20 years ago, but now you just look like some old fart."
What does picking that record say about you?
What does this say about us? It says that a reunion without Bill Ward is just an overhyped, overpriced Ozzy show. And we all know what the recent Ozzfests have been like.

White Orange performs tonight at 2826 Arnetic.

​

White Orange: White Orange

White Orange release their debut self titled release having seemingly spent loving hours listening to Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age or The Sword and deciding that they want to infuse that stoner doom with a brightness and melody not usually associated within this genre. It isn't exactly reinventing the wheel, rather it is more like something that Husker Du era Bob Mould would have brought to this style, although the results are still reasonably captivating and original none the less.

Kicking out an opening riff that could easily be on the next Foo Fighters album, "Where" quickly morphs into a mighty sludgy riff, although one that is played at surprising speed. Vocalist, guitarist and the band's sole songwriter, Dustin Hill leads from the front, although with his easy style of vocals buried deeply under some washed effects it is more of a floaty, spacey vibe than an aggressive in your face meltdown. Added to that are little bursts of higher pitched, melodious vocals which bring a welcome alternate focal point, although never be fooled into thinking that the riff isn't always king here, as it plainly is.
Ably assisted by Ryan McIntyre on guitar, bassist Adam Pike and drummer Dean Carroll, this mix of styles is repeated (maybe slightly too often) across the eight other songs on the album. Hill is a vocalist to be reckoned with and while he and McAllister combine mightily on guitars, the likes of "Color Me Black" and "Sunspots" benefit hugely from the ferociously accurate drumming from Carroll.
Busy though the stoner genre has been in recent years, maybe it is time for some bands to come along and inject something ever so slightly different into its sludgy ass and with their well constructed and slightly more melodic approach White Orange may well be one of the bands to set that ball rolling. Even if they aren't quite the finished article yet themselves.

Track Listing
1. Where
2. Color Me Black
3. Middle Of The Riddle
4. Dinosaur Bones
5. Wonderful
6. Kill The Kids
7. Sunspots
8. Save Me
9. Sigourney Weaver

Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: White Orange BandCamp
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