The Lighthouse and the Whaler - Mont Royal

The Lighthouse and the Whaler
Mont Royal
2015

When you think of indie rock the sound that comes to mind is exactly what Cleveland natives The Lighthouse and the Whaler are putting out. This latest album Mont Royal was recorded in Canada with producer Marcus Paquin who has produced Arcade Fire and Local Natives. That production lead to a sound that is very similar to those bands, making The Lighthouse and the Whaler sound less like a nuvo folk band and more like an epic indie outfit. At times the sound works great and the broad themes the lyrics deal with make for a great connection to what they are saying, however the album does seem a bit clunky at time like a band just trying to find their feet. "Senses" though weaves in the synths to an incredible degree. The touch is so light on this track that everything comes together to make something really special, and that is the case for a majority of the album. At times the echo on the singers voice can get a bit annoying almost like He is trying to bit to hard to sound like Local Natives.

"We Aren't Who We Thought We Were" is probably the most egregious on the record, it is totally overblown and self aggrandizing almost like a hipster U2. With "Closer" we see the band take an almost electropop move which not only does not fit their style the song itself sticks our like a sore thumb. It is completely jarring when listening to the album as a whole to have this one song completely break the vibe the band is trying to create and then have the next track slip back in line with the rest of the record. That is where this album seems to misfire, The Lighthouse and the Whaler can make some really great decisions but also a few bad ones which take you out of what is otherwise a solid record. Mont Royal is worth a listen but don't expect to have your mind blown.

6 out of 10