Noah and the Whale: Last Night on Earth Review

Artist: Noah and the Whale
Album: Last Night on Earth
Label: Mercury

If Ben Folds and Abandon Pool made a baby who hopped into a time machine and went back into the late 80s and produced music, that baby would be UK indie folk band Noah and the Whale. Possessing a very strong electronic and melodic sound, Noah will take you on a roller coaster of sounds and sensations.

Hailing from London, Noah and the Whale was started in 2006 by Charlie Fink, (lead vocalist, guitar, harmonica, ukulele), Tom Hobden (fiddle player), Urby Whale (harmonium, bass) Laura Marling (backing vocals), and Doug Fink (drums). The band’s third full-length album, Last Night On Earth, masterfully includes something for just about everyone, making them the new generation of indie music.

Last Night on Earth contains ten wonderfully crafted songs, this author’s personal favorite being “Life is Life”. With its electronic opening and 80’s feel, the song opens up on a soothing synthesizer and rolls into very whimsical and catchy yet profound lyrics. “Left his house at midnight, resolute and young/in search of something greater than he has become….he’s going to change his ways”. Both a teen in search of social identity and an adult trying to widen his gaze to see different life paths can identify with this song.

Another favorite on Earth is “Paradise Stars”, a brief instrumental track that makes for a nice break within the album. “The Line” is the weakest track on the album due to its simplistic chorus and lack of meaningful verses. It would sound much better if they removed the synthesizer and let a simple acoustic guitar be the main instrument of choice and added more substance to the lyrics. However, whether you’re inside on a rainy day or planning a long road trip, overall, Last Night on Earth is a must-have.

Rating: blank star Noah and the Whale: Last Night on Earth Review