THE WHITE WIRES - WWII

Though we've yet to see it firsthand, we've been hearing reports over the last while of a great movement happening right now in our nation's capitol, with a network of groups making the type of catchy garage-punk that our own city is so starved for. Bands with names like The White Wires and labels like Going Gaga Records (with their slogan "the power poppe shoppe") releasing a steady stream of 7" singles and limited edition LPs. It all seemed to good to be true, but we now have the new White Wires album WWII in our hands as proof, and let's just say we're going a little gaga ourselves.

"There's a little place that I want to go/I could take you there if you let me so/Come on, pretty baby/Run away with me tonight" is the album's first line, and a good indicator of what to expect: simple but great lyrics that you can sing along to, a basic guitar/drums/bass setup playings songs with so many hooks that you'll be anchored to your stereo. This Ottawa three-piece writes catchy tunes with such ease, they've almost got it down to a science. Released by Dirtnap Records, The White Wires have much in common with another band on that label, the sorely-missed Exploding Hearts. They both tattoo their influences on their arms, while still coming up with enough fresh ideas to be worth listening to. On "Popularity", frontman Ian Manhire sings about listening "to the sound of the bands today/and you wonder what it takes to make the grade". It's a question worth asking, but with WWII, The White Wires have crafted an album that definitely makes the grade.