Weathervanes, the debut album from New York City's (Queens, to be exact)
Freelance Whales is built upon the tried and true, 21st century indie pop foundation of quirky loops, banjos, glockenspiels, and clever lyrics. Like their closest contemporaries (
Morning Benders,
Fun., Le Loup) and obvious influences (
Belle and Sebastian,
Sufjan Stevens), the
Whales use twee pop as a springboard for a more heavily orchestrated brand of earnest, quirky city pop that seems destined for placement in a European car or fruit-adorned MP3 player commercial. Bolstered by a handful of engaging singles like “Generator," "First Floor,” “Location,” and “We Could Be Friends,” it’s hard to find fault with the album's intricate arrangements and top-notch production. Lead singer
Judah Dadone’s clear, even tenor dutifully leads the charge, and the group’s penchant for folksy instrumentation mixed with meticulous electro flourishes and familiar, singsongy melodies is well-executed. ~ James Christopher Monger