White Lies

'To Lose My Life...'

Depressive synth rock with boy-band acumen.

Spin Rating5 of 10

It used to be that young hopefuls would copy old bluesmen to confer some secondhand authenticity and depth upon their efforts. This strikingly handsome London trio applies a similarly studious sense of imitation to sad post-punk icons like Joy Division by way of the Killers. Their debut begins with a rousing arena-rock anthem called "Death" and then delivers detached variations on the same subject for the next nine tracks with a professionalism that's simultaneously compelling and creepy. Should "Death" be this catchy? Maybe so, but certainly not this impersonal.

Listen: White Lies, "To Lose My Life"


To Lose My Life - White Lies

By Barry Walters

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