White Denim - 13

White Denim’s 13 is both a personal marker and a creative statement. For singer-guitarist James Petralli, the title reflects his birthday and the symbolic pull of the number itself: independence and creativity on one side, chaos and misfortune on the other. It also happens to be the band’s thirteenth album, a neat alignment that mirrors the record’s balance of confidence and volatility.

Musically, 13 draws together rock, funk, dub, soul and blues with the exploratory spirit that has defined White Denim since their early days in Austin. Petralli’s listening habits remain wide-ranging, and the album moves freely between styles, from the glam-leaning swagger of “Chew Nails” to the funk-blues bite of opener “(God Created) Lock And Key”. Beneath its playful bravado, that track digs into darker themes of power, shame and survival.

Elsewhere, “Time Time” and “Earth To” turn inward, reflecting on ageing, responsibility and the tension between creative freedom and family life. “Keep Calling Me (Baby)” flips the mood again, blending dubby rhythms with bright, pop-leaning melodies. Throughout, 13 feels rooted in lived experience, written from the perspective of a middle-aged artist taking stock and trying to do better.

The album also reflects the fluid, communal nature of White Denim. Alongside Petralli are long-standing collaborators and founding members, including Josh Block and Steve Terebecki, joined by a shifting cast of trusted players. That sense of shared history and connection runs through the record, grounding its stylistic range in something human and direct.

13 stands as a vivid reminder of why White Denim continue to matter: curious, collaborative, and still pushing forward with purpose.

Tracklist

1. (God Created) Lock and Key
2. Chew Nails 
3. Only A Fool
4. Time Time
5. Crossfyre 
6. Keep Calling Me (Baby) 
7. Earth To 
8. That's Rap
9. Hired Hand #2 
10. Ruby 
11. Matchbook Baby 
12. Quiet Moment 
13. Drive Trucks