WHITE RABBITS Issue #32

Fort Nightly

By Cortney Harding
Published: June 1st, 2007 | 12:00am

It’s surely cheesy to describe a record as a toe-tapper, but the White Rabbits’ new album inspires over-caffeinated, impatient foot motions. The entire record is an energetic affair, moving forward at a jittery pace that makes you think the band’s six members all have important dinner reservations after their recording session.

Far from resulting in a sloppy product, Fort Nightly is a tight, polished, upbeat collection that sounds like the Strokes would if they existed in the mid-’80s. From the opener, the catchy, frenetic “Kid on My Shoulders” to the much more mellow “I Used To Complain, Now I Don’t,” White Rabbits demonstrate an incredible range.

Other standout tracks include the ska-influenced “March of the Camels” and the charming, swingy “Navy Wives.” By putting together a record that remains high-energy throughout and being willing to cross genres, White Rabbits might just rise above their “next Brooklyn buzz band” status and have a lasting career.