The Tender Age
VF14, 2021
8/10
A veteran art-rock crooner from Los Angeles, Ward White possesses a voice that you’re immediately drawn to, and he’s quite skilled at bass and guitar as Mark Stepro (drums, percussion) and Tyler Chester (keyboards) accompany him on these poetic and timeless tunes.
“Dirty Clouds” starts the listen with warm guitar and light drumming as White’s smooth, elegant pipes and playful keys enter the cozy rock’n’roll setting, and “Easy Meat” follows with a more firm thumping that resonates in the buzzing climate that benefits much from White’s charming falsetto.
The middle tracks are some of the best, including the glam-rock prowess of the gritty yet melodic “On Foot”, while the title track showcases sophisticated piano amid some blues guitar lines and, of course, White’s expressive, unique pipes.
Nearing the end, “Heavy Lifting” unfolds with a shimmering, dreamy quality that’s quite mesmerizing in its beauty, and “Monrovia” exits the listen textured flawlessly with artistic moments alongside hooks and harmonies.
It’s not hard to think of Bowie or Morrissey when listening to The Tender Age, and White’s meshing of art-rock, orchestral pop and glam-rock certainly makes an impression that will likely leave you enamored.
Travels well with: Electric Religious- Tragic Lover; Dizzy Box Nine- Radio Fiction