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Noah And The Whale
The First Days of Spring
Campus Correspondent Review By Laura Cebula,
Belmont University
On its third release The First Days of Spring (Mercury Records Limited), Noah And The Whale have created a more melodic and mature album. This English band has had quite a bit of exposure with this album, with “Blue Skies” being played in an episode of the television show “One Tree Hill.” Though there could be more overall musical variation, The First Day of Spring is an incredibly beautiful album.
Building chords and minimal vocals give the listener anticipation for the rest of the album, making the title cut a great opening track. As with its first album, Noah And The Whale realize less is more. Charlie Fink’s vocals add a bit of imperfection to the overall sweetness of the album, due mostly to the simple lyrics and beautiful instrumentation. Two instrumental tracks, separated by only one song, do not add much to the album as a whole, though both are delicate pieces that would stand well on their own.
The album’s general message is one of hope. With lyrics such as “I will only let you down” on “My Door Is Always Open” and “I didn’t marry the girl I loved/ I saw my world cave in/ Felt like giving up” in the “My Broken Heart,” the listener assumes a pessimistic tone or a state of winter. But many of the songs, such as “Blue Skies” and “My Broken Heart,” go on to more hopeful lyrics, like the latter song’s “I’ll be laughing again,” leading into a new season.
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