Monday, December 14, 2009

One-Hit Wonder: White Town

In 1997, Jyoti Prakash Mishra's band White Town joined the ranks of the one-hit wonders with "Your Woman." The song reached #1 on UK charts and topped at #23 on Billboard's Hot 100.


A follow-up from the album Women in Technology was not forthcoming.

Unlike many other albums that spawn a one-hit wonder, Women in Technology contains other good tracks. Mishra's vocals are solid and the mixing on the more techno-aspected tracks, like "Thursday at the Blue Note," is pleasantly melodic and complex. One detriment to the album is that it is uneven in sound. While "Your Woman" is powered by a fairly driven beat, the remainder of the tracks are soporifically laid-back. The album's eponymous track is only a subtle synthesizer track from being a capella. While EMI UK backed Women in Technology, the relationship between the label and politically out-spoken Mishra was strained and EMI UK dropped White Town after just one album.

"Undressed" also from Women in Technology:


Women in Technology was not White Town's only album. It was preceded by Socialism, Sexism & Sexuality (1994) and followed by Peek & Poke (2000) and Don't Mention The War (2006). All were released independent of a major label. All three latter albums are available for download via Amazon.com and through other retailers. Peek & Poke and Don't Mention The War share many qualities of Women in Technology and also adds a measure of punk influence.

"Make the World Go Away" from 2006's Don't Mention The War:

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