White Reaper

The World’s Best American Band (Polyvinyl)

White Reaper is beer-laden rock tied to an amplifier. The Kentucky quintet’s sophomore album leaves no room for deep breaths with sizzling riffs, sparkling keys, and screeching vocals brought to you by frontman Tony Esposito, the whole reminiscent of Seventies Kinks and Cars if they threw a house party. Consistently cheeky, head-throbbing rock (“Judy French,” “Party Next Door”) meets shimmering melodies (“Little Silver Cross,” “Daisies”) that alleviate without losing momentum. Esposito cries out, “I just wanna be a real good pair of your blue jeans,” on “Eagle Beach.” That’s White Reaper, all right: vintage, slightly worn, but tight at the top. (5:15pm, BMI stage)

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This article appears in October 13 • 2017.

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