Canadian indie pop? Who’d have thought! Seriously, though, Vancouver’s stated the Whale have been around for over six years making crisp pop songs–but Hawaii is the very first album of theirs that I’ve been lucky sufficient to hear. The lead single, “I like You,” is awesome–and not even a bit twee. other fantastic cuts are the opening track, more Than This, a trippy piano-based tune that would be at house in any type of Edie Brickell or Grateful Dead fan’s collection; On The Ropes, which almost seems like beach boys pop (only more sophisticated); as well as the acoustic “Narrows.”
But truly, every tune is a champion here.
This is on my “Best of 2013” shortlist.
