Peaceful The World Lays Me Down by Noah And The Whale

Peaceful The World Lays Me Down Reviews

Awful
Rarely do I feel quite so let down when I buy an album. Often I feel that I have bought something that wasn't quite worth the money, but to call this album bad would be generous in the extreme. The central concept seems to have been to produce the most twee, saccharin nonsense possible.

I bought this on the strength of good reviews from magazines I usually trust, because I heard it was 'New Folk' (whatever that is!) and a desire for something a bit whimsical. Well, whimsical it is but to the absolute extreme. Everything about it is bad: songwriting is generally poor with little craft, lyrically it is shallow and twee and the performance is no more than adequate. Listening to it I honestly felt moved to nausea by the sickening kitsch of this album. This is to music what poorly-painted porcelain ballerina statuettes are to home furnishing, a set of extraordinarily extravagant swags, tails and pelmets on the curtains of popular music. As for folk, well if this is the way it's going then I give up right now! They're no more than a pub band compared to the real folk scene in this country. 'New Folk' is a total misnomer, 'twee-pop-folk' would be closer to the mark. I can't think of anything even close, Cosmic Rough Riders had a similar approach when they begun but they had a lot more spirit and drive.

I would hate to think that anyone took this as representative of modern British folk! There is so much great folk out there, none of the following are twee and cheesy: Seth Lakeman, Bellowhead, Julie Fowlis, John McCusker, Kris Drever, Eliza McCarthy. Karine Polwart has more class in her little finger. If you want something good in a similar line of gentle guitar/piano music with male and female vocals there are so many better - Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan's Ballad of the Broken Seas, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's Raising Sand, etc, etc. Mind you if you honestly think this is good you would struggle to comprehend such excellence! Utterly, utterly dire!

Better than the single
I feel that the album is actually better overall than the single - tho can only be pleased that the single brought attention. It is a considerable accolade to say that the sound reminds me of one of the best indie bands for many years - Neutral Milk Hotel.

Will still love it in 5 years time
I bought tickets to see them live in Glasgow last week based on hearing 5 years time. Absolutely loved them. Think they are bit of Jonathan Richman meets the Waterboys sound but they were a true delight. Bought the album after seeing them - uplifting, energising and sensitive. Played it constantly. Love it to death! Think the videos are mental but sweet and make me smile.

noah and the whale
Heard this at a virgin record shop, bought it on the spot, a truly stunning cd. wonderful clear lyrics a must for any record collection

Give it a try!
I can't agree with the last reviewer who stated that there is one good song and ten whiney ones. That is far from the mark. Some reviews on here may put people off this album because they make out that it is a 'whingey folk album' which paints it as a singer with acoustic guitar scenario. This is wrong. There ARE the odd song like that but they are always supplemented by the gentle backing of Laura Marling. And then you have the other songs which make great use of all manner of instruments. I won't mention 5 years time as everyone knows it by now. The other single Shape of my heart has some nice mexican horns etc, Rocks & Daggers (the best song on the album) has some fiddle and some nice changes in tempo, 2 atoms is another up tempo number. I can see how this album would irritate people, but I think there is more to it than meets the eye. Give it a go, at least listen to it from start to finish before saying it's rubbish! I Like the Wes Anderson inspired videos as well!