Shit, Sean E**** was right. We haven’t posted here since September. Shameful. I assure you, we have been listening to our fair share of music though. So... here we go again! Take two. I have days off now during the week where I’m not forced to run three miles in my free time (wink) so I’m going to attempt to keep writing on here.
I think if you read enough of my "reviews," you’ll find that I don’t like writing negatively about music. When I find that I don’t enjoy listening to something, I tend to just stop listening to it and move on. And so I end up writing my own interpretations of albums here instead of actually reviewing them. So, yes, I do enjoy
Light upon the Lake very much.
Okay, so
Light upon the Lake, by Whitney. I’ll start by saying this: Whitney is a unique band in my opinion for two reasons. For starters, the drummer is the lead vocalist. Additionally, the lead vocalist (who is also the drummer!) has a really cool, falsetto vocal range.
The first track, "No Woman," starts out subtly and beautifully, easing you into the rest of the album. The vocals paired with the soft guitar, horns, and—do I hear strings even(?)—in the first minute of "No Woman" make for a perfect sample of what the rest of the album holds. The second verse comes in with bongos. How fucking cool. And the lyrics: "I’ve been going through a change / I might never be sure / I’m just walking in a haze / I’m not ready to turn." I’m not ready to move on just yet.
The energy turns up with "The Falls," but sounds lonely still. "Golden Days" is one of my favorites. "It’s shame we can’t get it together now / cause I’m searching for those golden days." Shit. Aren’t we all? By the end of "Dave’s Song," Whitney is rocking but with brass building up in the background the whole time and then it ends as simply as it began.
The title track is perfectly beautiful and profound even. It ponders life moving on around us throughout any transition we experience, with gentle guitar plucks twinkling like stars on the lake.
"No Matter Where We Go" is easily the most fun and carefree song on the album. It has the feel and sound of early Beatles songs like "Love Me Do." Simple and lighthearted. "On My Own" tells the tale of two friends—Eponine longs for Marius but Mariu—GOTCHA. No but seriously, "On My Own" starts out chill: "I’m moving slowly when I’m on my own." The second verse hits but the longing is still there. And there’s a sweet trumpet flare at the end.
"Red Moon" is like an interlude. I just imagine these guys jamming to create "Red Moon." It’s cooler than I will ever be.
"Polly" builds excellently. It starts out slow with simple chords and then by the time the chorus hits, it’s optimistic and bright. And then you wait patiently for that chorus to come back for the rest of the second verse so you can cheer for the protagonist once again.
The last song is "Follow." The music is almost campy. I read that it was written about the death of the lead vocalist’s grandfather. The lyrics capture these sentiments beautifully: "If your troubled mind remembers when it’s coming to an end / it’s like you’re running home again / and I’ll follow you." I’ll remember you as if you’re going home again.
In summation—what a cool band, and what a cool album. I hear themes of longing and transition throughout
Light upon the Lake. Dare I say that same longing that plagued someone else who longed for a green light on the dock upon the other side of lake? Instrumentally, it’s eclectic. It’s indie music meets jazz club. Vocally, Julien Erlich has a retro sound that’s at the same time serene and all his own.
Light upon the Lake is totally worth the listen.
