MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: SAID THE WHALE - LITTLE MOUNTAIN

There's a ton of joy in this album.  The joy of music-making;  they obviously love to create it, to play and sing it, and the bigger the better.  Full of intricate arrangements, lots of dynamics, plenty of massed vocals and harmonies, different textures, and cool instrument choices, no two songs sound similar, except in their bountiful fun.

You want proof?  How about the track Lucky, with its marvelous chorus, "We are lucky and we know it/we clap our hands to show it," and of course, cue the clapping.  It's destined to be the song of the night at their shows for the next two years, at least.

This is the third album for the Vancouver group, coming off plenty of successes, including last year's Juno for New Group of the Year.  It all adds up to huge studio and recording confidence.  O Alexandra is fully embellished with pomp and circumstance, right down to the Brian May-styled anthem guitar solo.  Big, big and bigger follow, including Big Wave Goodbye, an epic, with multiple sections, a homage to Van City, "..my city, my lover, and my friend."

Wonderfully produced by the group and Tom Dobrzanski, and mixed by Jack Joseph Puig (a big-name California guy), the album is a thrill-ride of a listen, an ear-feast.  There's an excitement to them, in everything their doing, from the driving first single Heavy Ceiling, with its New Wave touches, to the fan-friendly 'net site featuring videos for all 15 tracks from the album.  Check 'em out as they head to your town this spring:

Mar 27     Saint John, NB     Peppers Pub
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse
   
Mar 28     Halifax, NS Reflections Cabaret
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse
   
Mar 30     Corner Brook, NL  Grenfell College
w/ Chains of Love
   
Mar 31     St. John's, NL The Rock House
w/ Chains of Love

Apr 05     Charlottetown, PEI  UPEI
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse
   
Apr 06     Moncton, NB  The Manhattan
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 07     Fredericton, NB  Charlotte St. Arts Centre
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 08     Quebec City, QC  Le Cercle
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 10     Montreal, QC  Le Divan Orange
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 11     Ottawa, ON  Ritual
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 12     Hamilton, ON This Ain't Hollywood
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse

Apr 13     Toronto, ON The Great Hall
w/ Chains of Love & Boxer The Horse