The Underrated Music of White Lies

White Lies have been billed as a band to watch for more than two years now, and with the release of their new album Ritual pending in January 2011, these Ealing alternative rockers are set to take the world even more by storm. With their downbeat yet uplifting songs and singer Harry McVeigh's Ian Curtis-like vocals, White Lies have earned a solid and growing fanbase as well as much critical acclaim - even if their distinctive and often challenging style has alienated less adventurous music listeners and kept them from achieving the fame of some of their contemporaries.



That said, the days when White Lies were an undiscovered gem and beloved secret are long gone, as the group catapulted into the limelight with the release of their previous album To Lose My Life… in 2009, with performances around the UK and the US cementing their reputation - most notably playing during BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend and the NME Awards Tour. The album was also instrumental in securing the band's place in polls such as the BBC's Sound of 2009 and the BRITs Critics' Choice.

Despite all this acclaim, many feel that White Lies are still failing to attract the audience they deserve, especially when compared to bands like The Killers and Editors who are capable of filling much bigger venues and selling more albums based on their names alone. While each band has a clearly distinct style - a clear 80s influence pervades their music - this is particularly the case with White Lies. Jack Brown's saturated synthesisers hark back to the gothic rock of The Cure, complimenting McVeigh's Joy Division style vocal delivery, but the combined package feels fresh and relevant in the modern music scene, rather than a mere throwback.



Perhaps it's the subject matter frequently chosen for the band's songs that have led to many music lovers keeping them at arm's length, with dark poetry and lost love forming the majority of the group's output and the less than subtle single 'Death' making it clear that this isn't the sort of feel-good, bubblegum band suitable for everyone.



With the release of White Lies Ritual album, critics and casual fans are eagerly awaiting something with broader appeal, without compromising the integrity of the music. While White Lies could never be described as lacking maturity, especially when compared to the emo scene they are sometimes mistakenly affiliated with, Ritual is expected to be the sound of a band having grown out of its birthing pains and ready to tackle a more diverse range of themes.