Band Of Skulls: Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

If Band Of Skulls didn’t already exist, Jack White might have to create it. (He’s a little busy at the moment with other things.) The British trio draws from the same well as The White Stripes, but not so blatantly that things get ugly: Singer-guitarist Russell Marsden echoes White in both his vocal delivery (bluesy, but not blatantly so) and in his guitar-playing (trebly but meaty, and often with an eye aimed at Jimmy Page). Marsden is joined on lead vocals by Emma Richardson, whose smoky, natural voice resembles Alison Mosshart’s—she of The Kills as well as Jack White’s new band, The Dead Weather. But Band Of Skulls, in spite of the name, treats blues-rock with a bit less seriousness and reverence, and definitely leans closer to the mainstream. “Honest” has a “Going To California” vibe with a Lilith Fair lean, while the very next track, “Patterns,” sounds a touch like Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It’s all a bit muddled, but rarely in a negative way. From start to finish, you might think you’re listening to six different albums, but chances are solid that you’ll like at least a couple of those.