Description
HEY YOU! Get a whiff of this: Scratch N Sniff by The Whiffs the second album by Kansas Citys foremost power pop foursome is upon us via Dig! Record Co (US) & Bachelor Records (EU). Not unlike their first album (Another Whiff), and as rock critic Jon Harrison heralds in the albums liner notes: this sophomoric offering provides all of the things you love about The Whiffs. Now, if youre asking yourself what do I love about the Whiffs? Heres a clue: SONGS. You love The Whiffs songs! And now Scratch N Sniffs got 13 new boffo numbers brimming with the hook-laden, never-far-from-the-bar pub-rock snarl The Whiffs nail everytime.
The Whiffs are less recording artists than a band of journeymen, from the drums Jake Cardwell (C&C Drum Co.) built-by-hand, to Joey Rubbishs home recording studio (Club Sandwich). Its only natural Scratch N Sniff is a homegrown production from the floor (tom) up, and was recorded in the bands living room. The songs are all their own too. Whether penned by Cameron (Rory), Campbell (Zach) or Rubbish (Joey), they all stink of The Whiffs broken-in power pop confectionery. A close listen will reveal the cracks of many-a-can and roommates laughing at vocal takes. As such, everyones invited to Scratch N Sniff and dive in!
Recommended if you DIG!: The Whiffs previous output, Stiff Records, The Mats, The Rubs and any era of the Fab Four!
Our take: Scratch N Sniff is the third album by this Kansas City power-pop band. Weve loved both of the Whiffs previous LPs here at Sorry State, and Scratch N Sniff keeps the streak alive, giving us more of the same classic-sounding power-pop. Thats not to say Scratch N Sniff is redundant, any more than its redundant to write a pop song in this day and age its an adaptable and extensible framework that any skilled practitioner can make their own, which is what the Whiffs do here. While the songwriting is classic and timelessfull of big guitar hooks, vocal melodies, and lyrics about love and lossthey ground the presentation in 70s classics like the Flamin Groovies, Big Star, the dBs, and the Shoes. The sound is raw and live, like a band playing together in a room (no synthesizers or drum machines here), and the recording has a slight vintage-y haze. Its a lot like Sorry States own the Number Ones, and if you have a place in your heart for this kind of chiming power-pop, youre going to like it.
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