Silver and Gold - Noah and the Whale

Silver and Gold - Noah and the Whale

3:24

Heart of Nowhere, 2013

Written by Charlie Fink

This is a song that wears its influences on its sleeve.  The very first line references Neil Young's classic albums: "Well, I was looking for harvest, but I only found silver and gold."  The song is structured around a repetitive simple percussion line, but when the chorus kicks in, the synth riff, vocal delivery, and even the lyric strongly evokes the Talking Heads' "This Must Be the Place."  It's a song that asks for faith in love in a time of confusion and uncertainty, but doesn't offer any promises.  "And you’re just hanging on to a glimmer of hope / Of the life you had before / But it's too late."

Just Me Before We Met - Noah and the Whale

Just Me Before We Met - Noah and the Whale

3:37

Last Night On Earth, 2011

Written by Charlie Fink

Built on an irresistible melody, soaring violin, and a warm, communal chorus, this song captures an intimate moment in a relationship. The narrator's partner is leafing through old photos, laughing at the awkward, embarrassing person they used to be. Rather than bristle, the narrator meets it with wry self-awareness: "Well I've always had a wild imagination / And a see-through heart." Charlie Fink delivers the song with a gentle, almost bashful restraint that perfectly suits its affectionate nostalgia, turning what could have been a basic love song into a quietly charming portrait of the simple joy of being known.

Jocasta - Noah and the Whale

Jocasta - Noah and the Whale

2:49

Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, 2008

Written by Charlie Fink

Fey indie-pop, heavy on the twee and the harmonies.  But as light as the music is, the lyrics are heavy.  The song touches on themes on sin and redemption — Jocasta as Oedipus' mother must be the source of the title, though it's not explicit — and some of the imagery is pretty harsh: "When the baby's born / Oh let's turn it to the snow / So that ice will surely grow / Over weak and brittle bones / Oh let's leave it to the wolves / So their teeth turn it to food."  Hey, that's not precious and twee!

5 Years Time - Noah And the Whale

5 Years Time - Noah And the Whale

3:34

Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, 2008

Written by Charlie Fink

Listen for the silent E!

It's a love song, a stars-in-your eyes-thinking-about-how-great-love-is song, it starts with whistling, it's got handclaps, it's sweet and catchy, it has beautiful female vocals by Laura Marling echoing Fink's lead.  This was a top ten hit in a handful of countries and was used in an ad, but I'm not really tapped into that kind of impact music has.  I don't watch the charts or ads or shows that feature the newest hit.  So I'm always last to everything.  I really love this song.  It's adventurous in that it's not afraid to be vulnerable and cute.