The Whig Party was an early 19th century political organization that included honest Abe Lincoln on its rolls for a time. But the band called The Whigs can hardly be termed a political entity. Rather, it is a gritty new rock band that mixes cosmopolitan lyrical leanings with a Southern rock-rooted sound. Vocalist Parker Gispert’s couldn’t-give-a-damn vocal sneer is the most exemplary aural element on Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip. He oftentimes comes off like Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, albeit with a slight Southern accent. The Whigs ain’t no New York City band like The Strokes, however. Instead, this group is from alternative rock rich Athens, Georgia, which also gave the world both R.E.M. and B-52s. Gispert may let out a few verbal sneers now and again, but he also knows how to humbly sigh, too. The track “OK Alright� reveals a vulnerable musical side that is most akin to Paul Westerberg’s familiar gutsy revelations. An album title such as Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip reads like the bragging of a neighborhood bully, rather than the words of a polished politician. No doubt, The Whigs have come out swinging on this notable new effort, which makes them wonderfully apolitically correct.
~ Dan MacIntosh
Release date: September 19, 2006
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