Whitey on the Moon's self-described sound is "indie-soul hop," and it's a pretty fair way to label their music. On their debut, Special New Band, they create an entirely successful mix of jazz and jangle pop ethics. The band doesn't stop there, though. Cellos, violins, trumpets, saxophones, and whatever other instruments the band saw fit to include all make appearances. Perhaps they utilized whatever skills they and their closest friends possessed; regardless, no instrument seems out of place. Lemony Fresh sounds like the place where Mercury Rev and Beat Happening converge. Good Enough sounds like a jazz band playing alongside the Velvet Underground. The song's lyrics and vocals suggest beat poetry leanings. No Going Back, one of the strongest songs here, glides along with the help of a rolling piano and a distant trumpet, as gentle sung-spoken lyrics relate that "what's wrong with me is what's wrong with you." The band knows how to deliver quality instrumentals as well, as seen on I'm Known to Stay at Home, an experimental organic track with excellent dynamics, and 9 Cans is a beautiful song worthy of any film score. Some songs are more fully realized than others; Better Than Anything sounds a bit immature and awkward. It would be a fine song on another indie release, but it doesn't live up to the standards Whitey on the Moon has set on the rest on the album. For any missteps, and there are only one or two, there's something else magical to cover up the holes; the addition of drum'n'bass elements on Bobcat Man is one such piece of magic. Special New Band is at turns ramshackle, at turns quite pretty. It's a truly accomplished joy of an album, and it suggests Whitey on the Moon have a wealth of near-classic indie-soul hop material left to record. They're working in some inspired space here. ~ Tim DiGravina, Rovi

1		Good Enough
2		Lemony Fresh
3		No Going Back
4		I'm Known to Stay at Home
5		Better Than Nothing
6		Billy Graham's Dogs
7		Lady Day and John Coltrane
8		Broken Record Soul
9		Bobcat Man
10		Poison Arrow
11		Ballad of Route #32
12		9 Cans

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