Noah and the Whale's second album finds frontman Charlie Fink ruminating over his failed relationship with Laura Marling, a fellow songwriter (and former love interest) who played a key role in the band's debut. With music serving as his therapy, Fink fills The First Days of Spring with lush soundscapes and folksy melancholy, finding the beauty that exists in the neutral territory between both camps. This is a cinematic album, one that's meant to be heard in conjunction with its accompanying film (also titled The First Days of Spring, available as part of the album's deluxe edition), and the track list unfolds in appropriate blockbuster fashion. Several tracks set the scene, others advance the plot, and two instrumental pieces serve as gorgeous transition pieces. Laura Marling is nowhere to be found, of course -- her split with Fink has essentially turned Noah and the Whale into an all-male group -- yet her influence permeates the album, from Fink's disillusioned lyrics to the band's vacillations between elated anthems and intimate, disconsolate ballads. Heartbreak can tear a songwriter to shreds, but it serves the opposite purpose here, lending a sense of vulnerability to Fink's baritone and adding some much-needed drama to the band's music, which previously concerned itself with twee-styled progressions and summery melodies. Noah and the Whale has officially grown up.
There are a few great film/album mashups. Two of the more obvious ones are Wizard of Oz/Dark Side of the Moon and Toy Story/OK Computer synchronizations. But rare is the instance of finding a film inspired by and created completely in an album’s image – an album that stands alone, but also perfectly scores [...]
More >
Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down by Noah And The Whale is a pretty solid album. That debut LP defined the band as one not above having fun despite songs of a less than sunny disposition. My one complaint, actually, was the song that cemented them in popularity, “5 Years Time”, as it was contrary to the overall tone of the album. Noah And The Whale’s sophomore release, The First Days Of Sp
More >
THE SKINNY: London native quartet Noah And The Whale's latest release is an album set to film, both of which are entitled The First Days of Spring.WEBSITE: http://noahandthewhale.comMYSPACE: http://myspace.com/noahandthewhaleFREE MP3: Click HereEvery once in a while, an artist of one field will take interest in another. An actor will start a band. A composer will paint his mistress a valentine,...
More >
The First Days Of Spring. Think about it. It’s been a long, cold, and grey winter. Living things have died or burrowed away for the frigid months. The sun seems like a distant memory. Then low and behold some of those luminous rays begin to break through the thick cloud cover. Green buds pop up [...]
More >
I've been on a huge Noah and the Whale kick this summer, and for very good reason. With their album, The First Days of Spring, due out October 6, there's been a massive media push to support the release.Most notably, NatW's single, Blue Skies, has been a constant source of enjoyment here in Beastonia. And now, it's available on iTunes, so get to getting, and get to basking in its warm and welco...
More >
The First Days of Spring is the new album from Noah & The Whale, and is one of the most beautiful records you will hear this year. The album comes accompanied by a film, directed from the band’s lead vocalist Charlie Fink and starring model Daisy Lowe, which runs the length of the album. Both [...]
More >
For Londoners Noah & The Whale, The First Day Of Spring is a ‘difficult’ second album in more ways than one, an aching and poignant journey through heartbreak, and the subsequent attempts at healing, recovery and moving on. Much of this theme has been attributed to lead singer Charlie Fink’s break-up with Mercury-nominated Laura Marling; [...]
More >
Noah and the Whale are one of those bands that have nearly everything spot on for me. First off, their name is a tribute to Noah Baumbach and his film The Squid and the Whale. Then they quite often sign their posts as 'Sic Transit Gloria' (phrase from Wes Anderson's Rushmore). Even their music style (a pop-folk mix) brings memories of Belle & Sebastian or the Magic Numbers. What else do you nee...
More >
ALBUM REVIEW: Noah and the Whale – The First Days of Springwords: Jamie Miltonoriginally scribed for gigwise‘5 Years Time’ broke ground in ways Noah and the Whale could in no way have imagined. It became a routine, summer-time sing-along for children, mums, and fans of Laura Marling. One year on, it’s allowed the band to [...]
More >
Noah And The Whale splitlisteners down the middle back in 2008 with their slightly upper-class personality and folk-pop sensibilities and whilst thier first record was a mild success in terms of airplay, it was still given a rocky ride by the critics.
More >
Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down by Noah And The Whale is a pretty solid album. That debut LP defined the band as one not above having fun despite songs of a less than sunny disposition. My one complaint, actually, was the song that cemented them in popularity, “5 Years Time”, as it was contrary to the overall tone of the album. Noah And The Whale’s sophomore release, The First Days Of Sp
More >
For Londoners Noah & The Whale, The First Day Of Spring is a ‘difficult’ second album in more ways than one, an aching and poignant journey through heartbreak, and the subsequent attempts at healing, recovery and moving on. Much of this theme has been attributed to lead singer Charlie Fink’s break-up with Mercury-nominated Laura Marling; [...]
More >
The title track from Noah And The Whales latest record 'The First Days Of Spring' has just been given a new video and considering they were twittering sweetly about love with Laura Marling just one year ago, they seem to have grown up considerably since then.
More >
The First Days of Spring is the new album from Noah & The Whale, and is one of the most beautiful records you will hear this year. The album comes accompanied by a film, directed from the band’s lead vocalist Charlie Fink and starring model Daisy Lowe, which runs the length of the album. Both [...]
More >
Noah and the Whale have a new album out called The First Days of Spring and you can download a free MP3 on their website. And I’m not just posting this because it’s a free MP3, but this album is sounding pretty damn good. The downloadable MP3 is the title track and has a great [...]
More >
The First Days Of Spring. Think about it. It’s been a long, cold, and grey winter. Living things have died or burrowed away for the frigid months. The sun seems like a distant memory. Then low and behold some of those luminous rays begin to break through the thick cloud cover. Green buds pop up [...]
More >
vimeo Direktvideo link[Embedded Video]Noah and the Whale’s latest, The First Days of Spring, has just been released today. With this latest release comes an extended trip on the road, including three dates at Mercury Lounge to close out the tour from 11/02-11/04. The music is lush with a vibrancy that seems to be lacking these [...]
More >
There are a few great film/album mashups. Two of the more obvious ones are Wizard of Oz/Dark Side of the Moon and Toy Story/OK Computer synchronizations. But rare is the instance of finding a film inspired by and created completely in an album’s image – an album that stands alone, but also perfectly scores [...]
More >
Noah And The Whale splitlisteners down the middle back in 2008 with their slightly upper-class personality and folk-pop sensibilities and whilst thier first record was a mild success in terms of airplay, it was still given a rocky ride by the critics.
More >
Noah and The Whale are back with a new album, The First Days Of Spring, in August. Last years Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down was a happy go lucky upbeat pop gem of an album, but it seems with this one they are pushing their sound in different ways. Take a listen to the [...]
More >
I come bearing three tasty gifts of the aquatic music variety. Confused? Noah and the Whale, the London four-piece folk band that got everyone whistling last year with ‘Five Years Time’ is back this summer with a new album, ‘The First Days of Spring’. Recorded at Rak Studios in London and then mixed [...]
More >
Noah and The Whale, the U.K. indie folk band, is gearing up for the release of their next project The First Days of Spring, an album and a film from the group. The album already hit U.K. stores this past Tuesday, but its not for sale in the U.S. until October 6th.The lead single “Blue [...]
More >
In part because I thought it’d be fun to have back to back picks of the week with the word ‘Whale’ in the title of the band name, and in part because I’ve been listening to Noah and the Whale’s The First Days of Spring almost exclusively this week, I present to you… Noah and [...]Related posts:Noah and the Whale – Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down Review These days, a certain sound o
More >
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "The First Days of Spring")
