Top 10 of 2010 – No. 8

Music — By Andrew Evans on 11/12/10

No. 8:   Freelance Whale – Weathervanes

One of the chirpier releases of the year, Weathervanes placed it’s creators as a more optimistic Death Cab for Cutie, or as NME put it ‘the Owl City it’s ok to like’. Whilst not entirely fair, both do have elements of truth in them.

Knitted from the fabric of down-the-line US indie, it is only on a carefully selected few strands that Freelance Whales let their quirks fully come to the forefront – as seen on the head-rush pop of Hannah, Kilojoules and Starring. Elsewhere, the mournful longing of Broken Horse shows there is more to them just wide-eyed wonderment.

As the only debut in our Top 10, Freelance Whales have a lot to live up to with their follow up. However, if their newest single Enzymes (not featured on Weathervanes) is anything to go by, they’ll be just fine.

Just one?

Freelance Whales – Starring (right click)

Buy Weathervanes here