Dandelion by Said The Whale seamlessly blends tales of romance with a relatable and painfully reminiscent undertone. The short, carefully crafted album is a sequence of meaningful lyrics paired with a gleeful beat. Each song treads down a path of emotion with clear tones of love and heartbreak.
Track one, ‘The Ocean‘ kickstarts the blending sounds packed inside the album. The lead vocal is paired with orchestra-esque background vocals producing a youthful tone. The song spotlights their drums switching between a soft pace to a quicker, excited frequency. ‘The Ocean’ is the perfect introduction to the coming of age, and optimistic sound that the album holds.
Dandelion‘s main instruments are the violin and drums and each song stands out through their unique utilization. Tracks like ‘Sweetheart‘ initiate a saddened, slowed violin sound which rises to a lively drum pattern whereas, ‘99 to the Moon‘ uses their drums and strings in a more bouncy, playful manner. Dandelion continuously jumps from moments of light-heartedness to reminiscent, mirroring the album’s exploration of tribulations in love.
The instrumental track, ‘February 15‘ is a reflective moment. The 4-minute song uses sultry piano keys escalating to a grand ending, to reveal a sense of awakening. Violin strings are introduced once again, and this time at the end, in a goose-bump-inducing climax. This brief pause in tracks sets up the second half of songs in a clever segue.
‘Honey Lungs’ depicts a profound theme masked by a rock aesthetic with raspier vocals. Lyrics like, ‘I got honey in my lungs, alright’ give a sense of intentional positivity, in combating a world of hate. The song shifts midway, to a mellower energy, with vocals hinting at the message of choosing love.
The next track, ‘Everything She Touches is Gold to Me‘ holds the throne. The both catchy and wholesome lyrics generate an inescapable earworm, qualifying it as the album’s standout. Once again, the song has a brief moment of dimness, which is built up to a cheerful melody coupled with serenading background vocals, similar to ‘The Ocean.’
Said the Whale touches the line of repetitiveness with ‘Anything for You‘ and ‘Show Me Everything‘. Nevertheless, this is made up for by the curated sequencing, which does a telling job of packaging a clear beginning, middle, and end.
The album consistently channels deep emotions and without an attentive ear, they could easily be overlooked. Each song incorporates somber moments harmonized by a happy tune. Dandelion wraps up in a fulfilling bow with its stripped-down use of lyrics and rhythm. The soft ending to the album concludes Said The Whales’ meticulous portrayal of love and heartbreak. The album title Dandelion itself pays homage to the spring flower which reflects the overall theme of the album, sweet, revealing, and a sense of new beginnings in the air.
