Stardeath and White Dwarfs

The Birth

Warner Bros.

Aug 12, 2009 Web Exclusive By Laura Studarus Bookmark and Share


Stardeath and White Dwarfs sounds like a Spinal Tap-rejected band name. However, from The Birth's cover art image of a man in mid-scream, to singer Dennis Coyne's falsetto, it's difficult not to view them in relationship to another motley crew—The Flaming Lips. The ties run deep: Coyne is the nephew of lead Lip Wayne Coyne, while the other band members have served as Flaming Lips roadies.

Aside from a reported love of glitter, comparisons end there. While The Flaming Lips offer a twisted take on the hallmarks of prog-rock, Stardeath and White Dwarfs wear their influences on their sleeves. Their debut album at times recalls the work of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and King Crimson. Although, even as guitar solos squeal and pounding drums illustrate the band's impeccable 1970s-style musicality, the only thing The Birth manages to truly recall is... Christopher Guest. Stardeath and White Dwarfs are undeniably talented. Hopefully next time they won't let influences—or undersized models of Stonehenge—take center stage.  (www.stardeathandwhitedwarfs.com)

Author rating: 5/10

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Average reader rating: 4/10

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Mo
August 24th 2009
1:57pm

wow!  that was a lame review.  I think they are great.  Apparently thousands of others do too.  They love them in Europe as well.  U.S. is always the last to recognize real talent.