Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring Review
Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 10.25.2009
If you've just gone through a tough break up, this probably isn't the album you want to listen to right now.
Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
Review by Daniel Wilcox
Charlie Fink – vocals, guitar
Urby Whale - bass
Doug Fink – drums
Tom Hobden - fiddle
Track listing:
1. The First Days of Spring
2. Our Window
3. I Have Nothing
4. My Broken Heart
5. Instrumental I
6. Love of an Orchestra
7. Instrumental II
8. Stranger
9. Blue Skies
10. Slow Glass
11. My Door is Always Open
The First Days of Spring is the follow-up to Noah and the Whale’s critically acclaimed Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, and if you were of the opinion, as many were, that Peaceful suffered from being a particularly mellow affair, then this may not be the album for you, as this is The First Days of Spring, then Peaceful was like a midsummer party. It’s worth noting that this record is part of a bigger product that includes a film of the same name, available on DVD with special editions of the album, and the fantastically interlinked tracks are everything you would expect from a grandiose film soundtrack. The First Days of Spring is also something of a concept album, chronicling the break of front man Charlie Fink and former Whaler, and accomplished solo performer in her own right, Laura Marling. Indeed, it all sounds a bit pretentious, and it is, but that’s not to say it’s not an enjoyable listen nonetheless.
Many of the tracks make use of imagery of nature as a metaphor for the progress of the relationship, and this is expertly reflected in the music more often than not. For instance, the record’s opener and title track begins with a deep and booming bass drum and mellow introduction of string elements and electric guitar, which sound very much like the dawning of a new day full of optimism and hope as Fink purrs “I’m still here hoping that one day you may come back.” The long piano and violin notes resonate throughout and continue into “Our Window,” a track discussing the denial that follows the realization that a relationship is over. And while the album progresses with similar themes about breaking hearts and doomed relationships, it’s a genuine and honest record that isn’t about self pity, but a brutal account of a real life relationship.
Arguably the album does suffer from the loss of Marling’s vocals, as the harmonies provided by she and Fink on Peaceful were one of the record’s strongest and most unique selling points. On the other hand, Fink’s lone voice is perhaps better accentuated here and is no doubt better suited to the overall melancholy atmosphere the music creates. This is probably best demonstrated on “Stranger,” a phenomenal track that describes the difficulties of moving on, as it were. The album’s finale, “My Door is Always Open” is another highlight, from its impressive slide guitar and chilling acoustic outro, its more up-tempo pacing ensuring it’s remembered more than some of the other tracks on the record. And indeed there is some filler here, notably “Slow Glass” and Love of an Orchestra,” which allow technically sound and full of grandeur, it doesn’t really seem to fit in with the rest of the album. The two instrumental pieces either side sandwiching it almost cost the album greatly as it nearly loses its flow, but the aforementioned “Stranger” just about salvages it.
While not entirely abandoning their folk-pop sound that was so prominent on Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, the album does have a much more majestic sound and makes more accomplished use of strings. The musicianship isn’t where the album’s only slight weakness lies, however. That’s be on Charlie Fink’s lyrics, for although the may be honest and well-crafted, they’re choc-a-block with clichés and although that’s to be expect on an album about a broken heart, there are arguably far too many here to be forgiven. Still, there’s no faulting the music itself, and that should be the main thing, no? Besides, that lyrical maturity is probably the only piece of the puzzle missing, and thus preventing this from being a near-classic.
Essential downloads: “The First Days of Spring,” “I Have Nothing,” “Stranger,” “Blue Skies” and “My Door is Always Open.”
The 411: The First Days of Spring represents a much more mature sound for Noah and the Whale, and while there are still flaws, it is obvious that this is a band that knows how to make good music. It shouldn't take long for them to iron out some of those wrinkles, and when they do they'll be a real force to be reckoned with, but we'll settle with what they're offering for now, and that's just great music.
