The First Days of Spring

Noah and the Whale | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cherry Tree
• ASIN: B002CQV0QS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Chamber Pop

Editorial Reviews

2009 sophomore album from the British Folk/Pop outfit. The First Days Of Spring is released to coincide with their film of the same name. The album was recorded in London and New York with producer Emery Dobyns (Patti Smith, Antony & The Johnsons). The film, meanwhile, was shot on location in London and Surrey, with Charlie, who has in the past shot promo videos for his band, in the director's chair. The film has an ensemble cast which includes the model Daisy Lowe, and was given its first public airing in a special presentation at Latitude Festival this July. Features the single 'Blue Skies'. Mercury.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars love'em, November 24, 2009

By 

cellsandmice - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Days of Spring (Audio CD)

Newly introduced to the band but couldn't stop listening once I heard the album on their MySpace page (with a link for a free download of The First Days of Spring). It's a very hushed, clean and almost turn-of-the-20th century sound with vocals at the forefront. The instrumental is not just background noise for the vocals though, but is melodic and full of immediate hooks created by lots of violin, acoustic guitar, some drums and distorted piano. Has the general tempo of Iron and Wine, raspiness of Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard or Andrew Bird and here and there a brass section ala Beirut. Love of an orchestra is brilliant - it has a real choir and is big, upbeat and fun. The overall atmosphere is consistent between songs but every song sounds different by using a unique set of instruments. Great sound and vocals are the strong suit of the album. The theme is being newly broken hearted after a relationship that sounds like it simply faded. It's the theme for every single song, but well-crafted and mature lyrics save things from being cloying. Unfortunately, this is where for me the album lost a star - the lyrics let you relate only on the level of a failed romantic relationship (Blue Skies; Love of an Orchestra and The First Days of Spring being about the energy of ones "old" self returning). If the theme of the album doesn't sound like something for you, at least consider Love of an Orchestra - it's a sonically-interesting mischievous song with funny lyrics and instant-good mood vibe.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dramatic, Cathartic, Achingly Beautiful, November 3, 2009

By 

Christina Howell (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The First Days of Spring (Audio CD)

I heard this first at [...]. I cannot hope to review it as poetically as the reviewer there did, but I'll give it a shot.

This album is a soundtrack to heartache. The soaring strings soar upward in hope then at the peak become tinged with sadness and chords that border on chaos before resolving again. It must be listened to in its entirety, from start to finish. It tells a tale of breakup and all the phases of grief, denial and finally acceptance that go with it. The vocals are unabashed and sometimes feel flat against the lush and rich backdrop of the music, but the rawness somehow make the songs feel more genuine.

If you can admit that you sometimes like to indulge and wallow in your grief, there are few albums which indulge that feeling better.

[...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album Review: First Days of Spring, November 4, 2009

By 

D. Krug "Super-Rad!" (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The First Days of Spring (Audio CD)

This album is easily one of the "must listen to" albums of the year. The First Days Of Spring was released on October 6th. It's the most honest and genuine record that I've listened to all year. Charlie Fink, vocalist, hid no secrets while writing it. He bears every emotion he has ever felt when he sings and it will hit you straight in the heart. Who knew that a band can make such depressing music sound so gorgeous? While listening to it, it traps you in a love story of a broken heart and it forces you to listen to the whole record to know the the outcome.

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