REVIEW: Vancouver Indie Veterans Said The Whale Redefine Success On Stunning New Album ‘Dandelion’
It’s been 14 years since Vancouver indie outfit Said The Whale, founded by members Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft, made their debut with the folk-pop EP Taking Abalonia back in 2007. Not only has the group had a few line-up changes over the years (including parting ways with drummer Spencer Schoening in 2017 and adding bassist Lincoln Hotchen a year later), but Said the Whale have reimagined their sound a handful of times. Now onto their seventh full-length album, Dandelion is an amalgamation of everything they’ve done in the past, refined and wrapped with a bow.
While their orienteer-folk sound has evolved to be more studio-shaped and at times, orchestral, there is still a connection to their home in the Pacific Northwest on Dandelion courtesy of their Wes Anderson-esque music videos for “Everything She Touches Is Gold To Me” and “Show Me Everything”. The energizing indie rock sound of their earlier records Little Mountain and hawaii comes through in the youthful spirit of the new record. The overt and deeply rooted emotion and sincerity of their synth-heavy heartbreaker As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide finds new footing on the passionate “February 15” – a piano ballad from keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown to her husband as a birthday present – and melancholic closing title track “Dandelion”. Into their more recent history with Cascadia, they returned to work with producer Steve Bays, who once again encourages his indie pop religion onto the track list for hits “The Ocean”, and “Honey Lungs”.
All of these hints to their past are what make Dandelion such a compelling album. Longtime listeners have a place to grow alongside the band while new fans can enjoy a polished and sincere release, all of which is enveloped by the band’s appreciation for the earth and loved ones – something fortified by the pandemic and recording during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Even the album’s title is a reference to the band’s optimistic philosophy, as they remind each other to find happiness wherever possible.
“Dandelions are everywhere,” says Ben Worcester. “Some people see them as nothing but a garden weed, but to many others they are a beautiful flower whose bloom marks the first sign of spring. Not to mention they are edible from root to flower, and have many medicinal properties. They grow whether or not you want them to, so why not focus on the positives?”
In that same breath, a lot of the record seems to focus on loved ones and the respective member’s longterm partners, highlighting the people surrounding them that inspire such uplifting and crafty indie rock while bringing moments of joy. Tracks such as “Everything She Touches Is Gold To Me”, “Sweetheart”, “February 15”, “99 To The Moon”, and “Anything For You” all fit the criteria for love songs, while “Show Me Everything”, “The Ocean”, and the Weezer-esque “Dandelion” focus more on being and giving a pulse to the listening experience.
As the world continues to re-evaluate what it means to be successful, Said the Whale have found their own path to that goal over their exciting 14 years. On their seventh record, Ben, Tyler, and Jaycelyn, and newest member Lincoln, have truly settled into their sound, finding success by being able to creatively evolve, all the while remaining personable and humble.
