When asked why the band’s name was changed from Fear of Flying to White Lies, drummer Jack Brown responded, “We just thought that we should perform these songs as a different band.” Just what a Killers cover band would say.
Even though White Lies don’t sound exactly like The Killers, they do little to set themselves apart from other bands associated with the 21st-century post-punk revival. The band’s To Lose My Life or Lose My Love is easy to forget after already experiencing Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand or the Editors. Even if you ignore the many similarities between White Lies and many other bands, it’s difficult to remember this album.
To Lose My Life or Lose My Love starts out with the ambitiously titled “Death,” which is arguably the best song off this album. This is probably due in part to it being the first track, so the album has yet to thoroughly disappoint you. “Death” begins with pulse-like bass and steady drums which build up throughout the song until they are accompanied by a few simple synthesizer tracks and the kind of over-produced-sounding power chord progression you would expect to hear if you slowed down a new Green Day album. Lead vocalist/guitarist Harry McVeigh sings, “Yes this fear’s got a hold on me,” rather unconvincingly until the second chorus, but even after he raises his voice, McVeigh is difficult to connect with. The reverb effects on his vocals seem to fall a bit short, even when the vocals are double-tracked.
Admittedly, the harmonizing vocals in “Death” and a few other places in To Lose My Life are done well. It’s too bad McVeigh ignores his vocal talent in favor of forming less-interesting melodies enslaved by his uninspiring lyrics — by far the worst part of this album.
The title track, “To Lose My Life,” is a perfect representation of this debut’s lyrical shortcomings. The same sentiment as “Death” seems to be expressed here; McVeigh is apparently heartbroken from a tumultuous relationship or the end of such a relationship. However, this time McVeigh seems to be in denial. “Let’s grow old together/ And die at the same time” is an absurd chorus accompanied by a beat you can dance to. This seems to be the result of mixing too much dance punk and alcohol.
Stupid things are said, but that stupidity is easily masked behind the drums’ ability to move your hips. It’s hard to imagine the insanity it would require for two people to attempt to coordinate their deaths. Only one song into To Lose My Life or Lose My Love, McVeigh seems to have forfeit this argument in favor of losing both his life and his love.
Unfortunately, it only goes downhill from there. McVeigh is bold enough to quote Dorothy on “Fairwell to the Fairground” (“Keep on runnin’/ There’s no place like home”). Lyrically and instrumentally, White Lies strive for mediocrity. There doesn’t seem to be any shining moments on this first effort. This band reinvents the wheel.
It seems impossible to comprehend why White Lies found it necessary to try to revive the post-punk revival. To Lose My Life doesn’t fair well as a piece of music, but add “How” to the beginning of the album’s title and you’ve got a great instructional audio book.
1 and 1/2 star out of 5.
