White Denim's debut album Workout Holiday did make a minor appearance in last year's glut of end-of-year lists - the three-piece from Austin, Texas capable of killer riffs and much promise. To be fair, that debut was earlier material re-recorded, so perhaps Fits should be considered their true debut?

Second time around they seem to be getting a very positive critical reaction and may even find a deserved audience - listening to Fits it's very hard to disagree...though experience has usually found that 'instant' albums don't generally hold the same interest by the time the list of best albums are made at the end of the year... Fits opens with a series of killers - 'Radio Milk/How Can You Stand It' bursting into Fugazi-Minutmen style hardcore funk, and the huge sounding 'All Consolation' where the apparent influence of The Pretty Things' SF Sorrow is displayed, as well as some of the best drumming this side of The Melvins.

'Say What You Want' is in similar climes to last year's hugely enjoyable Consolers of the Lonely, to which this album might be seen as a companion piece. I'm not convinced Fits is as multi-generic and musically protean as some have declared; it feels there are a few too many stock-funk type tracks like single 'I Start to Run' and 'Regina Holding Hands' that made me think of folk like Orson and the Chili Peppers. Compared to this year's truly eclectic Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free by Akron/Family, Fits pales somewhat - perhaps as the Akron/Family have been making music in this territory for several years and have also tapped into similar influences?

Fits is fun, and could very well be the soundtrack to 2009 - following the initial full-on tracks the album shifts into a noodling gear with 'Sex Prayer' and 'Mirrored and Reversed' that see them tapping into sounds reminiscent of The Make Up/Weird War and a more groovy Stone Roses; truly tapping into the psychedelic sound.

I kind of loathe 'Paint Yourself', which is stock indie piffle and kind of sandblasted by material on the recent Bitte Orca by The Dirty Projectors. To be fair, the tight blend of psych and post-punk that is 'Everybody Somebody' more than compensates and reminds me a bit of Modest Mouse - the vocals here often as annoying as MM's Isaac Brock, that whole Zed from Police Academy whine. Closer 'Syncn' is another great moment - a quiet psychedelic lull with some gorgeous guitar playing at the end - all gates seem open by its close.

I'm not sure Fits is as groundbreaking as some of the reception it's getting - at times they sound somewhere between a support band for Modest Mouse and a tribute band to Modest Mouse. Perhaps like The Cribs, there's more to admire than enjoy, and that true classic record is further down the line? Fits is perfectly pleasant to listen to, but does that make it perfect? Four stars now, but I'll bet three stars by December...