Customer Reviews

Great White Whale

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many great bands in the Christian market have been found in Canada. It seems that sometimes the best music can come from our neighbor to the north, and with native rockers Secret & Whisper getting signed to Tooth & Nail, they're out to prove that more great things can come from there. With their debut, Great White Whale, Secret & Whisper seems to have found a sound that borrows from others, yet may have enough originality to serve as their own.


The disc kicks off with a haunting intro, bizarrely titled "Blonde Monster." From that beginning, you'll realize you're in for an interesting ride. Some lyrics are quite cryptic, such as the heavy rock track "Spider Besider." Other tracks have a simple, yet poignant message to them, such as "The Actress," which talks of how we can get so lost in a film, from the impending drama. Intriguing sounds and effects lace all the way through the album, evident on the edgier rock tracks, such as "XOXOXO" (which serves as the key highlight of the album) and the soothing rock feel of "Looming Moon," and those tracks really give you a sense of what the band was seemingly going for with this record: a sense of mystery. Bordering on metalcore in spots, the band gives a new spin to the average rock we tend to get from Tooth & Nail, mixing in a haunting vocal by lead singer Charles Furny that just sucks you in from the very beginning.


The vocals may tend to cause distraction when trying to make out all the lyrics, but overall they work with the sound that S&W has achieved on this debut album. Other highlights on the record include the brutal-sounding "Attacker," the album's closer "Great White Whale" (which serves as a quasi-rock ballad), and the slow, passionate feeling of "Werewolves," which includes the thought-provoking line "With legs too weak to carry on, we fall apart like falling stars." For a band just starting out, this is an impressive and captivating debut. Secret & Whisper are definitely one band to keep an eye on as they start to make a name for themselves with Great White Whale.

I was also fortunate enough to find a copy of Secret & Whispers new cd "Great White Whale" at my local FYE and I am very excited I was able to get a copy becuase this cd is incredible. The melodies on this cd are like nothing I have heard in a while. Anberlin is similar but are a little more toned down than these guys.
This is one of those discs that you can play from beginning to end. You won't find yourself wanting to skip any songs. Make sure you listen to the intro and how it fades into track #2. It's one hell of a way to start a cd. Almost has a concert atmosphere to it.
Go pick upa copy of these guys and while you're at it grab Ivoryline's new cd as it is on the same level as these guys.

I was lucky enough to find a copy of this on my way home from work on February 12th and it rocked my socks off. I've seen them live in Seattle twice. Incredible! Fans of Saosin and Circa Survive MUST check them out, you'll wear the CD out, I swear. Haunting melodies and lyrics; driving rhythm; these guys have some talent! Possibly the most emotional musical experience I've ever had. Give them a shot, you won't regret it!

A lot of people say this sounds like Saosin or Circa Survive. While they do a little bit, it reminds me more of Sullivan, with heavier instrumentation.
Perhaps a mix of Sullivan, Saosin, and Circa Survive. Isn't alliteration amazing?

Anyway, I had heard their songs on their myspace before, and was intrigued. I went to Best Buy a few weeks after listening, was looking for some other stuff, and decided to pick this up as well.
Best move I've made in months, haha.

From beginning to end this album captures you and moves you. The music is powerful and has this way of grabbing your full attention. The melodies are beautiful and ethereal, the guitars are heavy, the way they should be. The lyrics are good, although sometimes beyond my grasp, I like the images they bring to mind, and I can relate to that which doesn't escape my mind.

Altogether this record is a masterpiece. Not a single song lacks anything. Brilliant band, that will have you dancing along with music that can't really be danced to.

(When I first bought the album, I threw it on while making a garden burger in my kitchen. I made two more, just because I enjoyed listening to it so much I didn't want to bother stopping it and moving the cd to another place. I pigged out simply as an excuse to continue listening)

I've purchased a few CDs lately (Saosin/Thrice) after listening to the song samples a few dozen times and deciding I'd like the CD. And I do really dig those guys, but I listened to the Great White Whale samples once and fell in love. These guys can scream in tune better than anybody else I've ever heard. Every song is amazing. Seriously. And the lyrics will give you chills. In a good way.

The cryptic way the first song folds into the second sets the tone for the CD. I didn't realize at first that they're on a Christian label, but don't be afraid fellow Buddhists, et al., the lyrics are so symbolic that they transcend anything you've ever heard before. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

I just found these guys on here actually when i was looking at The Send, one of my favorite Christian bands, and it said that people that had viewed them had also viewed Secret and Whisper. I read the reviews and based on what they said i downloaded the cd and listened to it. Wow. Its amazing. Awesome vocals and music, and interesting lyrics too. I would love to know what Ia cho Ku from Spider Besider means if anyone could tell me. great cd though.

Hailing from Canada, alterative hard rockers Secret & Whisper bring us their debut album Great White Whale. Freshly pressed off of Tooth and Nail records, this presentation is difficult to classify into a genre. Emotional screams mix with heavy slamming guitars and electronic waves produce quite an original sound.

Secret & Whisper give an entrancing intro that dives straight into the first hard hitting track "You Are Familiar". The following tracks "Vanshings" and "Xoxoxo" lay the foundation of a distinct but unique sound and feel. On "Lovers" the band doesn't hold back on their ripping guitars that lead into heavy riffs through out the song. Slower melodies like those found on tracks "The Actress" and "Werewolves" let the lead singer stretch out notes that blend into dreamy moods. I found myself having a hard time though depicting the lyrics and defining what each song's anthem might be. That aside, the words are not distasteful or odious.

The band's sound is similar to label mates Underoath or Spoken, but they have an interesting twist they make all their own. I found myself listening to this album over and over again because I enjoyed the different tastes of sounds within each track, never sure what I was going to get. What you do get with Secret & Whisper is arguably the newest rising collection of Christian hard rockers and Great White Whale can only be the beginning for this young group.

The Great White Whale really is a masterpiece. Each of the well crafted songs play a part in the story that the album is telling. The album has a mysterious, cold but bright, cinematic feel to it.
This is one of the few albums that i have loved from the first listen. The high flying vocals are unique in a natural, comfortable in its own skin sounding way. The intricate music is heavy at times, and soft and soothing at other times; much like the ocean. In fact the album does make the listener feel as if they are on some journey on the deep blue sea.
Buy this album. Begin your journey to discover the Great White Whale.

Finally something really good. This album is great start to finish, especially the first 5 tracks. They are fantastic. If you like Saosin or Circa Survive you will love this album no doubt.

I was a fan of Stutterfly before they broke up. Now I'm a fan of Secret & Whisper as well! They have a new sound but I like it just as much as I did with Stutterfly. People compare Secret & Whisper to Saosin (my favorite band) and it's a very very accuate comparison. The songs are full of energy and every song is differnt from the next. Overall, a great CD from a great band.