Love of an Orchestra

I would be rather ungrateful if I didn't give notice to one of this blog's greatest influences, and the band who, for many months now, has influenced my writing more than any other artist. 

This is from their second album--the one I heard first. It has some of the loveliest instrumentals and lyrics of any album I own, and never fails to make me feel sublime and content. The discovery of this album led me to their debut "Peaceful the World Lays Me Down." While I think "First Days" is their better album, the influence of "Peaceful" on my work can't be ignored. 

Because this band is so influential, I like to keep up on what they're doing, more so than other artists in my iTunes. So today, I went to last.fm to check their page. I  had "Noah and the Wha..." typed into the search when I saw their album cover in the bottom right-hand corner. They are last.fm's Artist of the Week, this week; and I whole-heartedly support the recognition. So, I'm including some links so you can get acquainted with this band I love so much. 

Website: (Obviously, this links you to everything associated with NatW)

http://www.noahandthewhale.com/

NatW actually made  "First Days of Spring" to go along with a film they made. It's quite beautiful and features the entire album with almost no dialogue. View it here.

I also encourage you to spend some time on their blog, which is much more entertaining than a lot of other band websites. It's a receptacle for the band's ideas and whimsies and a joy to read. You can really get a sense of who these guys are. Enjoy it here.

Finally, this website combines NatW with a concept I love the "Take Away Show" or "Concert à emporter." It's really quite ingenious. Bands/artists are invited to come and perform in random places. In the streets, in a bar, an elevator, the metro, anywhere. And they film the whole session. They do almost no editing. It's a collection of raw and spontaneous and beautiful music moments. I encourage you to experience the many artists who have participated in this project, not just NatW. I personally suggest Andrew Bird, whose Take Away Show is particularly magical. But, as Noah is the focus of this post, I direct you here.

Noah is an active band involved in many activities and projects that really showcase their talent. While I don't have the time or space to direct you to all of their projects, I hope I've wetted your appetite. Enjoy!

P.S. In case you're looking for some pretentious but well-researched and thought-out indie musical inspiration, I direct you to the place that first directed me to Noah. TLOBF.COM