“On In the Dark the band has paired its roadworthiness with greater ingenuity, and it finally feels like a fuse has been lit. “Kill Me Carolyne” hops around all crazy-eyed, and “I Am For Real” chugs with reflective purpose.

The Whigs still break some guitar strings and drumheads along the way, but there’s a wider range of textures and tones here—there’s even a dose of Greg Dulli in the post-Nuggets stomp of “I Don’t Even Care About The One I Love” and thinking man’s bar-trawler “Someone’s Daughter.” The band’s sound has become deeper, richer, more complex: suddenly they’re serving up a pint of porter after a few rounds of Pabst.”

Paste Magazine

“This Athens, GA trio burnishes the South’s recent rep as a cauldron of literate rock acts. Though their pop-dusted garage band approach is distinctive, there are echoes of Kings of Leon bite, My Morning Jacket experiments and Drive-By Truckers lyrical honesty. Singer/guitarist Parker Gispert explores angst and sexual guilt without getting wimpy or losing thrust.” (3 stars)

USA Today

On 2008′s Mission Control, The Whigs displayed shades of the late , great Replacements. On their third album (In The Dark), this Athens, GA trio continue to do Paul Westerberg and company proud with garage rock that’s heavy on hooks, riffs and swagger.” (3.5 stars)

People Magazine

“The band’s third disc is the sharpest distillation of its neo-college rock yet, with Animal collective producer Ben H. Allen’s arty wall-of-sound approach brightening singer Parker Gispert’s underdog anthems while rarely slowing them down.” (3.5 stars)

Rolling Stone

“Powerful, gritty and headbangingly sincere, In The Dark is a superb album, full of garage-rock funk with melodies to sing along to. In The Dark showcases a new turn for the band; while they have maintained their Southern garage rock roots, this time ‘round their sound has more depth and thought since the trio released 2008’s Mission Control.” (4 stars)

American Songwriter

“The Whigs artfully combine the disenchanted swagger of ’70s punk with the infectious, catchy bounce of ’60s pop. On their third release, In the Dark, they once again ride a fine line between grit and gloss. On tracks like “Hundred/Million,” “Black Lotus” and “I Am for Real,” the verses slither and snake, dripping with brusque attitude, while the chorus sneakily bores itself into your brain with its propulsive and upbeat melodies. Parker Gispert’s vocals are muscular and malleable, in places evoking influences as varied as Jim James, Elvis Costello and David Johansen.”

Filter Magazine

“The Whigs have all the elements of a boozy rock band—a scratchy-throated lead singer, no-fuss chord progressions, the constant stammer of crash cymbals—but it’s hard to deny their pop sensibilities, which is what makes them instantly likeable: My ears hurt, but, wow is this catchy. On In the Dark, the third release from the band, there is enough unabashed pop laced with sweaty southern thrashing to whet any rock and roll fan’s appetite. Verdict: Buy It.”

Read the full review here.

Vanity Fair

“In the Dark’s title track is notable for its stylish rock ‘n roll exterior, with melodies which sound both polished and organic. There is something timeless about the chorus hook; it could just as easily have come from 1979 as 2009. While there is an undeniable slickness to much of “In the Dark,” it is a sound The Whigs wear well, as with the finer moments of like-minded contemporaries such as The Raconteurs, Franz Ferdinand, or The Strokes.”

One Track Mind

“Mission Control was an under-the-radar surprise—simple, sloppy Replacements-style barroom rock that many bands attempt but few truly nail. This Athens, Georgia, trio bring more of the same on their third album, and why not? The mid-tempo title track finds a little more swagger in Parker Gispert’s vocals and a chorus built to be remembered.” 

Spin (23 Upcoming Albums That Matter Most)

The Whigs Channel Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones on March Disc “In the Dark”

Rolling Stone.com

“It takes cojones to do this stuff as if no one has ever done it before, but you’ve got to respect the outcome, and, over-the-top or not, at least Mission Control doesn’t fuck around. Like some big car-driving bad seed pulling up outside the high school, it’s an easy album to fall for.

PitchforkMedia.com
 (Mission Control review, 7.0)

“The best unsigned band in America”

Rolling Stone
 (10 Artists to Watch feature)

“Think Superchunk meets the Replacements.”

Entertainment Weekly

“In a town that probably has more bands per capita than any other in these United States, Athens, Georgia’s the Whigs have the dubious distinction of being Most Likely To Succeed.”

The FADER

Best Drummer of 2007

Esquire Magazine
(Esky Awards April 07 Issue)

“A collection of rousing rock n roll fundamentals … tightly constructed tunes, wiry guitar shards and ecstatic, beer-soaked choruses”

Spin Magazine “Breaking Out” feature

“A batch of songs that calls to mind the left-field pop of Guided By Voices, Nirvana grunge, Pet Sounds melodicism and points between.”

Performing Songwriter

“[The Whigs] evoke the neo-roots-rock vibe of My Morning Jacket, the cool minimalism of The Strokes and the perfectly constructed pop of the early Sixties.”

Rolling Stone

“It is easy to see that these new comers are for real. They whip up a refreshingly invigorating batch of deep-fried garage rock that blends Dinosaur Jr. era rock with Pet Sounds psychedelia and tops it off with a ladle of R.E.M.-flavored gravy. ‘Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip’ is a dynamic album that clearly illustrates the skilled versatility of these recently-signed ATO rockers.”

American Songwriter

“The most consistently listenable – not to mention fun rock records you’ll hear this year. Parker Gispert’s twang-y vocals and rusty wail blend perfectly with the group’s steely guitar stabs and drum-chugging pace. Thanks to a slew of catchy rock hits, The Whigs aren’t going to remain a secret for long.”

Stuff Magazine.com 
(9 / 10 = Freaking Great)

“On their second record, MISSION CONTROL, they perfect their raucous pop by combining the yearning of power ballads with scrappy belligerence of a ballroom takedown.”

Elle Magazine

“The results are excellent … Front man Parker has a great rock growl – equal parts Frank Black and Ornery Grizzly – and he knows how to unleash it all over meaty riffs and thundering beats.”

Maxim Magazine

“As debuts go, it doesn’t get much better: Each song unfurls with hook after hook of sweet melodious college radio pop/rock, all punctuated by [Parker] Gispert’s shaky, earnest vocals. It’s the same ingenuity in their music that guarantees that The Whigs will be the next Athens band to leave a huge musical footprint.”

Relix

“OK, remember this name: the Whigs, a sweet-and-noisy garage trio with a drummer who groks Keith Moon. They’re young, but they’re ready.”

Boston Globe SXSW blog

“Tipped by many as the next band to watch, the Southern rock trio jump-started Mercury Lounge’s early-evening crowd, launching into a blazing set chock full of cuts from their hit packed debut, ‘Give ‘Em All a Fat Lip.’ Working in a tightly knit circle, the Athens, Georgia band’s stage presence almost rivaled their impeccable set list. The evenings focal point remained the music at hand, and with a slew of punchy, pop-friendly tracks.”

Blender.com

“[Mission Control] roars like it was tracked during one of The Whigs’ famous
live ragers.”

American Songwriter