White Like Fire
Wait the Night Out
[Self-released]
www.whitelikefire.com
Many music critics have tossed bands like Kings of Leon and Mumford & Sons to the curb — but Pittsburgh indie-rockers White Like Fire really don't seem to care. On the band's latest EP, Wait the Night Out, it mixes tiny doses of twang into dancy rock songs, reel in Mumford-esque crescendos and even try on some soul revival. Lead vocalist Tyler Clawson has a thick, full-bodied, arena-ready voice that finds the middle ground between Kings of Leon's Caleb Followill and Phosphorescent's Matthew Houck. Although Wait the Night Out seems to lack real cohesion or identity, cruising through multiple styles of big-ticket indie, it provides enough reminders of why everyone liked White Like Fire's alt-rock forefathers in the first place. Shawn Cooke
Wings For Armor
Chasing and Being Chased
[Self-released]
www.wingsforarmor.com
This debut release from the local duo is nothing if not ambitious. Comprised of guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Murph and drummer Christy (they take a minimalist approach to self-identification), Wings For Armor is all about the drama, from its sweeping, synth-and-guitar-driven surges to the raw, angst-filled lyrics. Musically, the record evokes Lacuna Coil, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Taylor Swift in equal measure. It's way too long, but this band has a lot to get out there, and — quite frankly — it feels good to listen to something so unabashedly sincere. Margaret Welsh