Pick of the Week #44: Said the Whale

Is it the 44th week of 2009 already? God that's depressing. But you know what isn't depressing in any way, shape, or form? This hilarious, hilarious, phone message... oh, and Said the Whale's Islands Disappear.

From the dramatic intro "Dear Elkhorn" I thought I might be in for another band similar to my new favourites the Wilderness of Manitoba, or one of last year's best blog bands, Fleet Foxes, which would've been a good thing, but it was not to be. Instead, Said the Whale progress through the rest of their album with an almost choral power-poppy sort of sound that is reminiscent of stuff like the New Pornographers' Twin Cinema, Band of Horse's Funeral, or even the latest poppier album from the Tokyo Police Club, Elephant Shell.

To a certain extent I'm surprised that I like Islands Disappear as much as I do. With no disrespekt to the band, I just haven't had much of a taste for the poppy sort of bands as they always seem like they're "on"... c'mon, nobody is that happy all the time. Said the Whale is a happy, poppy sort of band, but there are moments on the album that are quieter and show that they're not just churning pop songs, they have feelings (as a band) too. I think the outdoors/wilderness/travelling theme of the album helps in this respect, for whatever reason, their real (or potentially fictional) trip across Canada makes me feel like the quieter, more introspective moments come from honest experience and reflection rather than seeing the latest Michael Moore movie or reading the latest Naomi Klien book.

I think the albums biggest strength though is it's diversity (much like the New Pornographers at their best), their ability to pound out a really, really, catchy song like "Camilo (the Magician" (which may well be the best "pop" song of the year), but they balance that off with some softer songs "Dear Elkhorn" "Islands Disappear" etc. and sometimes, somehow, they manage to do both at the same time "Emerald Lake, AB".

It'd a little disingenous - although probably not unexpected - for me to suggest that this is one of the best pop albums of the year, particularly since "Santa" sent me this album roughly a week ago. That said, Islands Disappear was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year, and is the kind of album that makes me glad that I decided to start a (mostly) music blog. You really ought to go out and buy this album.

[mp3] Said the Whale - Dear Elkhorn
[mp3] Said the Whale - Camilo (the Magician)

Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya
Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents ...
Pick of the Week #34: Mantis
Pick of the Week #35: Diamond Rings
Pick of the Week #36: The Wilderness of Manitoba
Pick of the Week #37: Asher Roth
Pick of the Week #38: Julie Doiron
Pick of the Week #39: Chad VanGaalen
Pick of the Week #40: That's the Spirit
Pick of the Week #41: The Ghost is Dancing
Pick of the Week #42: Dan Mangan
Pick of the Week #43: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros