Album Review: Whitley's "The Submarine"

Australian singer/songwriter, Whitley, has recently secured a permanent spot in my heart. In his latest album, The Submarine, Whitley blends country-sounding acoustics, dream-like electronic overtones, and lyrics that are simply poetic. The end result is a sound that will have listeners thinking Elliot Smith came back from the dead and started playing folk music with Bright eyes; all with an Australian accent. With songs recorded around the swells of the Australian surf, Whitley’s sound is comfortable and cool- appropriate for any time or place.
The album starts off slow with a love song called “Cheap Clothes.” The combination of classical strings and twanging banjo plucks sets the tone for the rest of the record. Whitley’s sweet but simple vocals are easy on the ears, the lyrics heartfelt and charming.
The second track, “Lost in Time,” is a faster tune with more complex instrumentation while still maintaining those simple vocals. We hear more of the electronic undertones in this track, which compliment the more traditional melody nicely, establishing Whitley’s unique sound for the listener.
Next is my personal favorite, “A Shot to the Stars.” This short toe-tapper is super-catchy and enjoyable. With a female counterpart in the hook harmonies, abstract sound-clips in the intro, and smile-inducing vocals, this track is a small gem to be overplayed by listeners of all backgrounds.
“I Remember” is a track that encapsulates Whitley’s solo style. The lyrics tell a story of falling in a kind of love that can “last forever”; a sweet love song that showcases Whitley’s writing talents.
Next we have the album’s title track, “The Submarine.” The name of this song came from the radar-sounding effect in the background of the song that makes the listener think they’re watching a sonar screen in, appropriately, a Submarine. We hear more of the female vocalist in this song, as well as a more prominent “rock band” sound with stronger electric guitar and drums.
The sixth track is a more experimental-sounding tune called “White Feathers, Strange Sights.” In this song we hear less of the traditional instrumentation we’ve been hearing through out the album and more electronic and interesting instrumentation.
The next tune is a folky and darker number called “Mojo Pin.” This track is primarily vocals and guitar/banjo. “Mojo” is, while still enjoyable, a little repetitive; definitely not a favorite of the album.
“More Than Life” is another favorite off The Submarine. The sincerity of Whitley’s lyrics and swooning vocals of this track are so genuine, making the listener truly stop and listen to what he has to say. This was the track that initially sparked my interest in Whitley, convincing me to listen to the rest of the album.
“All is Whole” is a more ominous track with lyrics like “You can’t save your soul if you can’t believe” and interjections of snare drum accents, as well as a full choral bridge and clincher. Overall, “All is Whole” is a very intriguing and complex side of Whitley’s, The Submarine.