The Dress Whites

Toronto's (by way of Montreal) The Dress Whites are a band that defies categorization. Blurring the lines between power pop, indie pop, and rock and roll, their debut full-length "My God, The Shame!" is an instant winner that will appeal to anyone who likes good, tuneful music.

After the instrumental opener "A Liberated Woman Will Destroy Us All" (which along with the closer titled "O'er The Transom of the Susan Constant" might lead you to believe you've stumbled across a Decemberists disc off the titles alone), "Give Up The Ghost" kicks in with an upbeat melody, stacatto guitars and a call-and-response chorus that lets you know you're not in Kansas anymore. "Spongecake" and "A Great Assault" are power-popping numbers that recall The Shazam, while "The Whale" and "Blood Work" keep up the pace in a Fountains-of-Wayne-meet-the-Rembrandts way. Meanwhile, "Two Times The Hurt" is a straight-ahead power pop gem that recalls fellow countrymen Sloan.

So get fancy and put on The Dress Whites; there's no shame in enjoying this one.
- Absolute Powerpop

4/5

The first full-length album by the Montreal group that emerged from the ashes of the Cains roars out of the speakers with the authority and grace of superior rock 'n' roll. As dense delights like Spongecake and Blood Work begin to creep under your skin after a few playings, you get a sense of what Squeeze might have sounded like with loud guitars, or what Oasis could have done with better melodies and a sense of economy. Whether it's the relatively epic Waking Hours or the four-on-the-floor backbeat of Two Times the Hurt, there's one thing you can count on from this promising quintet - which has, incidentally, relocated to Toronto: hooks that just keep on comin'. Don't miss this one.

Review by Bernard Perusse - The Montreal Gazette / National Post

4/5

It’d be a damn shame if people thought the band recently decided to move from Montreal to Toronto because of a lack of appreciation. Whatever the cause, we can consider ourselves lucky to have this five-piece garage/folk/soul/pop outfit in our midst. Satisfyingly eclectic and intently catchy from start to finish, My God covers plenty of ground without ever sounding unsure of itself. Give Up the Ghost comes off like feisty shout-along pop, and Spongecake nostalgically invokes the garage-rock melodies of old standbys like the Flashing Lights and the Super Friendz. Factor in what could be the album’s best moment, the reflective and bittersweet Two Way Street (Doo-Wop) that builds from singer Denis Woods’s eager croon into a bouncing revelry replete with heart-on-sleeve backing vocals and the whole package becomes refreshingly steady and endearing.

Review by Evan Davies
- NOW Magazine (Toronto)

3.5/5

For a group just coming together, this EP is an early view of a band you might start hearing a lot about. Upbeat indie pop, not rock, which sounds too free of cynicism to be from Montreal. More Sam Roberts than Wolf Parade, these are thoughtful, well-arranged songs from a group of guys who probably have a backup plan if the music thing doesn't happen. Remember the name, they may not need it...

Review by Brendan Murphy

- The Montreal Hour

When I first listened to the debut ep by Montreal-based band The Dress Whites, I had a vision of lying in a hammock on a warm summer Saturday when all of a sudden this languid, country-tinged sound started off in the distance. As I strained to listen I realized that it was a band playing not too far away and so I approached them playing in a backyard to a mixed group of people listening carefully while sipping on iced tea and lemonade. Not your normal rock and roll vision now is it? Well no, but The Dress Whites are not your typical rock and roll band.

With a sound reminiscent of maybe the softer side of mid-seventies rock but with lyrics that actually pull you in closer for a proper listen, all five songs are truly little gems that roll more than rock and with no apologies given, rightfully so. For sure the song that really stuck in my ear was “Far Away” which is basically a “fuck you” to an ex girlfriend, a song country-sweet and tasty. Wonderful stuff but the other five songs tend to grow on you as they reveal different layers and textures with each additional listen. Looking forward to what these guys will do in the future. A great listen. Pass the iced tea please.

Review by Mark Boudreau
- The Rock and Roll Report

4/5

With its first EP, the Montreal pop-rock group that emerged from the ashes of the defunct Cains gives us a good reason to keep a close eye on it's development. Without exception, the six tracks included here are filled with energy, hooks and jangling guitars. Care has also been taken with the arrangements and production. Stunners like Love Is the Only Thing, which sounds like a 60's classic from a parallel universe, and the breezy, folk-rocking shuffle Far Away are solid evidence of a band with songcraft talents that surpass the abilities of at least a few overhyped local deities. Keep it coming.

Review by Bernard Perusse - The Montreal Gazette