The White Wires: WWII

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go to the beach,” suggests the first chorus from The White Wires’ sophomore album, WWII, and it’ll probably be a make-or-break point for most listeners, who will either be instantly roped in by the infectious garage-pop melodies, or put off by the retro-mindedness of it all. For those in the former camp, this is A-grade stuff. Like their tragically defunct Dirtnap labelmates The Exploding Hearts, or their former Douchemaster labelmate Gentleman Jesse, The White Wires have filled WWII to the brim with hook-injected power-pop. The record’s dozen songs never top the three-minute mark, and while they don’t vary much stylistically, it’s hardly noticeable given the sing-along factor and the fact that it’s all over in less than half an hour. This sugary trio supposedly formed over pizza and pop a few years back, and while that almost sounds too good to be true, it’s also fitting; WWII’s songs are just begging to be the soundtrack to an evening of food and fun.