The First Days of Spring

by

Noah and the Whale

Edit

Newly introduced to the band but couldn't stop listening once I heard the album on their MySpace page (with a link for a free download of The First Days of Spring). It's a very hushed, clean and almost turn-of-the-20th century sound with vocals at the forefront. The instrumental is not just background noise for the vocals though, but is melodic and full of immediate hooks created by lots of violin, acoustic guitar, some drums and distorted piano. Has the general tempo of Iron and Wine, raspiness of Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard or Andrew Bird and here and there a brass section ala Beirut. Love of an orchestra is brilliant - it has a real choir and is big, upbeat and fun. The overall atmosphere is consistent between songs but every song sounds different by using a unique set of instruments. Great sound and vocals are the strong suit of the album. The theme is being newly broken hearted after a relationship that sounds like it simply faded. It's the theme for every single song, but well-crafted and mature lyrics save things from being cloying. Unfortunately, this is where for me the album lost a star - the lyrics let you relate only on the level of a failed romantic relationship (Blue Skies; Love of an Orchestra and The First Days of Spring being about the energy of ones "old" self returning). If the theme of the album doesn't sound like something for you, at least consider Love of an Orchestra - it's a sonically-interesting mischievous song with funny lyrics and instant-good mood vibe.

When I ordered "The First Days of Spring," I expected it to be the CD+DVD edition, since the product description said so. When I received the product, I was dismayed to discover that it was only the audio CD! There was no DVD at all, and I was really looking forward to seeing it after viewing the trailer. Why include in the product description that there's both a CD and DVD when there isn't?? Buy this album if you only want the CD, because it's very calming and peaceful. It's a bit more melancholy and reflective as compared to Noah and the Whale's first album, but very lovely indeed, with more instrumentation. DON'T buy this album if you want the DVD, buy the deluxe version instead!