24. April 2026
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Media Review

White Denim – 13

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

White Denim - 13

White Denim - 13
4.2

Rating

 4.2/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very versatile sound with a clear signature
  • Elements of many other genres, from country to rap

In December 2024, I reviewed the album 12 by the US-American rock band White Denim. Not that surprisingly, this one had been the band’s 12th studio album. You likely guess how album names are going on, when White Denim releases their 13th album on 24th April 2026. Here is my review of… 13.

 

White Denim – About The Artist

The Texas indie rock band White Denim has been founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas. They are a quintet, currently consisting of James Petralli (vocals, guitar), Cat Clemons (guitar), Steve Terebecki (bass), Michael Hunter (keys), and Matt Young (drums). Their first album has been the 2008 release Workout Holiday. Especially in the mid 2010’s, White Denim had some good album chart placements, majorly in their home market.

 

White Denim – 13 – Track by Track

The thirteen track album lasts 48 minutes.

1. (God Created) Lock and Key

On the thirteenth day, God created White Denim – that’s indeed a confident way to kick off an album. The opener has been released as a single beforehand. It is playful, but also has a touch of psychedelic sounds. Especially the very beginning of the song is demanding. But that’s just the sound the band is creating.

2. Chew Nails

After the opener, the melodic Chew Nails almost feels like a mainstream track. The song does have a certain Americana signature. Obviously, White Denim interpret the genre in their very own way and add their very individual style to it. Nonetheless, I really like the laid back sound and the plot of the track.

3. Only A Fool

Only A Fool starts light and easy. The pop music feeling more and more fades and the band introduces more of their versatile, experimental sound. Nonetheless, the groovy sound and the fine synth melodies stay and lead to a complex, but also very interesting sound. Here and there, though, the melodies feel to drown James Petralli’s voice a bit too strongly.

4. Time Time

Time Time is a comparably gentle and smooth listen. There is a stronger focus on the vocals. Nonetheless, White Denim shows their instrumental excellence and present a sound, which feels like very modern and experimental progressive rock with a touch of jazz. I really like the vibes of this song.

5. Crossfyre

The flow of sound stays on with Crossfyre. In the fifth track, though, the US Americans work more intensively with synth elements again. This leads to some 1970’s vibes, combined with the characteristic signature of the band. Nice.

6. Keep Calling Me (Baby)

Aloha! The bass-driven Keep Calling Me (Baby) reminds me of beach and surf rock. That’s the way White Denim might look at a summer day. The gentle vocals of Petralli in here adds a bit of kitsch. The song definitely made me smile.

7. Earth To

The psychedelic side of White Denim becomes very present in Earth To. This one feels frightening, complex, and also a bit out of this world. However, it is a really well done composition. Earth To might not storm into the mainstream radio charts, but I am sure many fans of the band will praise this one.

8. That’s Rap

That’s Rap – does the band really touch this genre as well? There are rap-alike elements in the vocals as well. However, the band adds so much of synth and other instruments to it that it still feels like a White Denim song. Towards the end of the song, they are a bit too much on the experimental side to me.

9. Hired Hand #2

13 continues with two songs which have been released as singles before the album. The song is such a difference to the predecessor and catapults the listener into country and blues vibes. Of course, there is a certain special flavor in their way of doing the genre, but overall, Hired Hand #2 is one of the most fun listens of the record.

10. Ruby

After this heavy jump from rap to country, it feels like White Denim is granting you a bit of a relax. Ruby is a rather straight rock track, developing a main theme over the curse of three minutes. Nice work on the guitars, which is the driving melodic force in here.

11. Matchbook Baby

The remaining three songs are previously unreleased ones again. Matchbook Baby surprises with a rather plushy sound and horns in the background. That’s one of the key features of the album – you never know what’s in stock next.

12. Quiet Moment

Piano and strings define the sound of the penultimate song. Quiet Moment is indeed a rather quiet and harmonic moment of the album. In the context of the other songs, this may feel a bit of soupy. But the quintet manages these 4:45 minutes (the longest track on 13) in style.

13. Drive Trucks

The title may suggest another Americana-alike track. There are steel guitar-alike sounds in the background. However, the song is rather a soulful ballad, which is is closing the album in gentleness and harmony.

 

White Denim – 13 – Spotify

I will add the Spotify widget once the album is available there.

 

White Denim – 13 – My View

I can’t deny that I struggled with 12. The more, I like 13 much more. White Denim keep on being surprising, versatile, and underline that they are mastering their sound and instruments. However, there are less of these moments in which they push the sound close to the limits. I really enjoyed this one.

Favorite Song: Time Time

 

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