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Whale|Horse

Count the Electric Sheep (2007)
Suburban Home Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 4th 2008

Let’s be frank: Naming your band Whale|Horse isn’t going to make anyone knock on your front door to hear your music. It’s certainly not a name that would entice me to listen to a band’s music, but luckily for me, and in turn, all of you, Count the Electric Sheep was sent to me, so there was no decision process involved.

How about another frank statement? You’re going to like this band. You’re going to like them a lot.

The main reason I’m confident in making that statement is vocalist Dan Hanaway. The deep and powerful baritone that Hanaway contributes to the rollicking rhythms in the EP’s six songs could not be a better fit. His voice cascades perfectly atop the jangly chord progressions in “Chinese Lightning,” and it powers the off-kilter approach in “While You Were Sleeping.” No matter the rhythm and no matter the volume, Hanaway is able to project perfectly and make himself the centerpiece. There’s a veritable swagger evident in his voice, and “While You Were Sleeping” brings it to the forefront.

The discordant riffing has a real bounce and energy to it, a perfect combination for Hanaway’s vocal stylings. His punchy delivery speeds the track up even more, but he sounds just as at home against more low-key instrumentation.

The title track is a slower effort than most on the album, and it still manages to showcase the power in the vocals. The almost ethereal stone of the guitars sets the stage for Hanaway to croon over the rhythm, a task that affords him opportunity to display his vocal range. Drawing out many of his vowels, the Whale|Horse singer coasts in top of the dreamy instrumentation, stopping only towards the end when the rest of the band explodes in a distorted frenzy that ceases just before the song peaks and cuts out.

A terrific debut for this Chicago quartet, a debut that finds them with the wind of Lake Michigan at their back and the world at their feet.

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marthaplimpton (July 8, 2008)

wayyyyyyyyyyy underrated. where are they now

david_arquette (July 6, 2008)

I took a linguistics class last semester, and, of all the things I learned, my favorite is that "whalehorse" was the old word for "walrus". I'm pretty sure I was the only person who gave a shit, because I doubt anyone else in that class of 35 knew who Whale|Horse was.

ibitchslappedyourmama (July 6, 2008)

It may have been self-released but I think suburban home distributes it...Anyway, I was wondering what happened with this band. This was released last year, I hope theyre still around.

scientistrock (July 6, 2008)

stealing this from my brother was a good idea. What is Dan up to now?

telegraphrocks (July 6, 2008)

I've only previously heard BAD things about this band, but after finally giving those 2 songs on MySpace a listen, it ain't bad at all.

However, that sounds NOTHING like Dan Hanaway. I just picturing the voice of "15 Minutes" in my head... so different.

I'll have to pick this up.

dante3OOO (July 5, 2008)

gay name, gay label, gay band
-DAnte

suburbanxcore (July 5, 2008)

As someone said, Dan Hanaway is definitely underrated. I don't like this as much as the Honor System stuff, but it's still real good.

pinkpenguin (July 5, 2008)

i heard a couple songs on their myspace like a year ago and didnt really get into it... gonna try again now

scientistrock (July 5, 2008)

I still need to steal this from my brother.

NefariousFIG (July 4, 2008)

Also, maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm pretty sure they self-released this album (as opposed to it being on Suburban Home).

And I forgot to rate the album in my last comment - 4/5 stars.

NefariousFIG (July 4, 2008)

I like this album a lot. And while perhaps Honor System comparisons aren't completely apt, this EP felt like a logical progression from Rise and Run.

Still, I must admit that I prefer members' old work a bit more (Single File is one of my favourite albums of all time). Dan Hanaway is criminally underrated.

wyzo (July 4, 2008)

I love this EP, but I have to say I am in love with all the members old work and their general way of writing tunes/looking at what it means to be in a band and write music.

In dorky fashion, I prefer the demo version of Anatomy Of A Defector that was on their myspace, but in shattering news, this was an actual cash purchase for me from their paypal ordering, so that says more about its worth than me saying its really good. Very solid, and only a pity in they have no full length. Or tour in iowa.

w