One Track Mind

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San Francisco’s Or, the Whale can make believers out of even the most jaded hipsters who think they are too cool for alt-country and its drawling phonemes. The band with the curiously punctuated name is gearing up to release their self-titled sophomore record on September 22nd, hoping to capitalize on some of the attention their first record garnered. Or, the Whale has shared the stage with acts such as Fleet Foxes and The Dodos, and performed live on Good Morning America–which is a good indication of how the band brings together the seemingly disconnected ideals of the indie ethos and traditional pop music songcraft. It’s okay if your mom likes to listen to them; it shows that she has good taste, too.

She may be none too pleased with lines like “Oh my, yes indeed / Spent my money on the jimson weed,” or “Oh, Datura / living in a dream,” but anyone would find it hard not to be drawn in by the melodies on “Datura.” Male/female harmonies are abundant on the song, its slide guitar flourishes and carefree piano notes dotting the landscape. Artists who are drawn to the rootsy, Americana genre are playing with fire–it’s an easy game at which to fail–but Or, the Whale’s work here is spotless.

An organic warmth pervades throughout “Datura,” the feel laid back but never lazy. Speaking of which, this song’s subject matter may be rather explicitly about a bad drug experience (“wish we had canceled this trip”… “the low is damn low, but the high ain’t bad”), but you’d never know it from listening casually since the whole thing has such a gleaming finish. For the less adventurous among us, “Datura” offers its own musical high; if you’re suffering from withdrawal symptoms when it’s over, the only thing you’ll need to hit is repeat.