He claims to have been inspired by Bob Dylan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, but Charlie Fink, leader of Noah and the Whale, actually falls somewhere between Jack Johnson and Mary Poppins on the musical spectrum. Sound ridiculous? Well, wait until you hear Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, a dozen tracks of ukulele-and-glockenspiel-infused folk-pop that redefines “twee” for the 21st century. It’s the type of album you listen to and instantly suspect the band recorded while wearing ascots and twirling parasols – and judging from Noah and the Whale’s publicity stills, that isn’t far from the truth. The songs aren’t terrible – “5 Years Time,” already a Top 10 hit in England, is among the best of the bunch – but neither are they particularly memorable. It’s nice to hear a little violin on a pop record, not to mention the aforementioned ukulele and glockenspiel, but it would be even nicer if these offbeat touches were being employed in the service of stronger songs. They’ve got their style nailed down, but next time out – if there is a next time – they’d do well to scrape together some substance. (Interscope/Cherry Tree 2008)
