Noah and the Whale
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Tour Dates 09/30/08 Doug Fir (FREE SHOW) Portland, OR
10/02/08 Amoeba Music (Instore) San Francisco, California 10/02/08 Pop Scene at 330 Ritch San Francisco, CA 10/04/08 Detour Festival Los Angeles, CA 10/06/08 Spaceland (FREE SHOW) Los Angeles, CA 10/11/08 Barfly – GONZO ON TOUR Birmingham 10/19/08 Students Union Loughborough 10/20/08 Zodiac Oxford 10/21/08 The Duchess York 10/22/08 The Cockpit Leeds 10/24/08 Fat Sams Dundee 10/25/08 The Arches Glasgow 10/26/08 Liquid Rooms Edinburgh 10/27/08 Academy 3 *SOLD OUT* Manchester 10/28/08 Whelans Dublin 10/29/08 The Limelight Belfast 10/31/08 MTV Liverpool Music Week @ Bumper Liverpool 11/01/08 Recue Rooms Nottingham 11/02/08 Phoenix Exeter 11/03/08 Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth 11/04/08 Waterfront Norwich 11/06/08 Koko *SOLD OUT* London 11/07/08 Concorde 2 Brighton 11/08/08 Kasbah Coventry 11/09/08 Thekla *SOLD OUT* Bristol 11/10/08 Junction Cambridge 11/11/08 Glee Club Birmingham 11/12/08 Leadmill Sheffield 11/13/08 The Old Fire Station Bournemouth |
A little information about the band: their name was taken from the film The Squid and the Whale and its director, Noah Baumbach, so I think this is a very new band (since I think the film was released only a few years ago).
Their debut album, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, was released in the US on September 16th on Cherry Tree Records. UK fans were already enjoying their album last August from major-label, Mercury.
Even before the Saturn commercial, I already had “5 Years Time” picked out as the song of choice because it’s such a “fun, fun, fun” song. The lyrics seem pretty simple (about love and friendship and being happy), but I reckon it’s the happy melodies that you’ll like. Also, is that a ukulele or a fiddle that I hear?
Most of their songs seem to be about love (and happiness) and death (and happiness?). The songs about love and happiness sound upbeat. Songs like “Give a Little Love” sound almost hippy-ish, “if you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own.”
“Shape of my Heart” is about masking your love: “if there’s any love in me, Don’t let it show/if there’s any love in me, don’t let it grow.” Come on, you know singer Charlie Fink is full of love and warmth.
My second favorite song is the almost-science song, “Atoms in a Molecule”. It’s a love song, what else?
“If love is just a game
How come I’ve never won?
I guess maybe it’s possible I might be playing it wrong”
I think perhaps the most unhappy song here is the closing song, “Hold My Hand As I’m Lowered”. It’s a “dead” slow song. I might hazard a guess that the title is referencing being lowered in a coffin? The song seems to be about growing old and reaching the end.
I love their lyrics and song melodies, but if you’re in a depressing mood, then I would suggest listening to any Smiths album.
Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down is available now and you can find the album at most record stores. See them on tour!
Trivia: Interestingly enough, Laura Marling was one time a member of Noah and the Whale, before venturing off as a solo artist.
