Whitney - Candid - Clear Blue Color Vinyl

Candid is the 2020 covers album from Chicago indie band Whitney, released on Secretly Canadian as the follow-up to their acclaimed second album Forever Turned Around. Covers had long been part of their live sets, but this time Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek deliberately chased songs from outside their comfort zone. It also marked the first time the full touring band recorded together in a studio, over sessions in Chicago and Portland.

The picks are wonderfully wide-ranging: Kelela's "Bank Head", Damien Jurado's "A.M. AM", Moondog's "High On A Rocky Ledge", David Byrne and Brian Eno's "Strange Overtones", The Roches' "Hammond Song", Labi Siffre's "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying", SWV's "Rain" and Blaze Foley's "Rainbows & Ridges". Waxahatchee joins them on a warm take on John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads". As Ehrlich put it, the aim was not to beat these songwriters at their own game but to mold great songs into something of their own.

This edition is pressed on limited clear blue vinyl. An easygoing, generous record that rewards repeat listens.

Side A
1. Bank Head
2. A.M. AM
3. Take Me Home, Country Roads (ft. Waxahatchee)
4. High On A Rocky Ledge
5. Something Happen

Side B
1. Strange Overtones
2. Hammond Song
3. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying
4. Rain
5. Rainbows & Ridges