WWI

I was very pleased to stumble across this album. I enjoyed Butterglory quite a bit, and Matt Suggs has put out some great solo material. I did attempt to keep my expectations low however, due to Sugg's last solo album. "Amigo Row" was a bit of a step down as far as his songwriting goes. That said, White Whale floored me. Rob Pope from the Get up Kids is a new addition on bass, and he provides a vibrant presence. Suggs delivers an excellent batch of songs, that possibly outshine some of his Butterglory work. The album is rooted in the theme of "Moby Dick", so there is plenty of salty sea tales. Indie pop has not sounded this good in a while, move over Arcade Fire.

White Whale's debut album is an expansive, ambitious collection of sea-worthy songs. Tales of epic proportions. Sounds as large as Moby Dick's friend himself. Initially disarming because of the gigantic scope, I believe this album's brilliance will become more apparent with time. To appropriately gauge the potential (and, oh yes, there is potential) of this burgeoning band one needs only to consult the frustratingly good track called "The Admiral". An enjoyable experience, indeed.