This second to last track is an instant highlight to the album leading into the closer which brings it back out mellowly, with repeating mantra like lyrics.
“Generator ^ Second Floor” starts off with a simple plucked banjo, building with more banjo, into xylophone, tamborine, kick drum, and then finally into the vocals. And following a third instrumental interlude the album returns to where it started. The mid-tempo folkiness showcases the beauty of the songwriting and musicianship. The next couple tracks bring the album back down a bit. This is where the Ra Ra Riot comparisons seem to come into play. A couple instrumental tracks bookend the most upbeat part of the album (excluding “Broken Horse”). Throughout the rest of the album, the Freelance Whales build upon the previous song, segue into the next without sounding repetitious yet never straying too far. A simple sounding song with an electronic pulse in the background, supplemented by acoustic and electric guitars, and what sounds like a choir of sorts. “Location” is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Following that is “Hannah”, which starts of with a synth melody, and then builds off a similar banjo line from the first track, with vocals in both styles. The opening tracks “Generator ^ First Floor” starts of slowly with some electronic noise, a slick banjo line, some xylophone, then builds with guitar and some catchy vocalizations. In fact “Broken Horse” sounds like it could fit on Rosie Thomas and Sufjan Steven’s collaboration.
The falsetto stylings dominate most of the album, harmonies throughout, with the folky elements of Sufjan permeating through on select tracks. The melody is always in the forefront, creating music that is familiar and memorable. Banjos, bells, banjos, tambourines, glockenspiels, harmoniums, keyboards, xylophones, electronics, synths, handclaps. It seems as though every song is filled with instruments, but none of them get in the way of each other. Having been likened to a folkier passion pit, their melodies, lyrics and instrumentation are what make this album.
It seems that if the band name has whale in it I must like it, because this is definitely one of the top albums of the year for me.
After first hearing some of their music on a very highly rated review on a blog, I bought their album on good ‘ol iTunes. “Weathervanes” by the Freelance Whales is one of those that I don’t have to revisit, but have anyways. And what a flammable heart I've been given You could be in several different places I am sensing your location I am starting to sense your location You are somewhere in the basement Beating on a makeshift drum kit Songs that I can hardly stomach I'm floating on the stairwell With my fingers shaking frantic Thinking softly what a concrete mess we live in.UPDATE: It seems that this song is now featured in a Starbucks commercial.Īs I begin compiling my best of 2009 list, I have been re-listening to a lot of the albums throughout the year. I am starting to sense your location You are somewhere in the attic Looking something close to tragic Knitting t-shirts and your mattress I'm floating on the stairwell With my toes grazed in the cedar Thinking softly what a tinder box we live in.
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