Giggle (1995)

Album Review

While Rachel Says Boo! established Why? as up-and-comers in the independent British alternative folk-rock scene, Giggle is the more refined and developed installment of this band. The songwriting of Nick and Ant Parker is more dynamic and varied, and that, coupled with the addition of new fiddler Shona Clark and the assistance of guest musicians on accordion and banjo, contributes to a more layered sound and a more mature Why?. Their brand of acoustic British folk-rock still includes Celtic undertones; only now Clark introduces slight gypsy stylings as the rhythm section occasionally experiments with polka beats. As a Christian band, Why? certainly separated itself from a majority of CCM bands by not relying on clichés and trite lyrics, opting instead to relay a message of hope, forgiveness, and redemption in an ordinary and applicable fashion, thus building bridges where other more evangelical approaches might close doors.