The story behind the band is compelling. Yet given our generation, a band recruiting and auditioning its members via Craigslist shouldn't be all too surprising. How well the band interacts, however, is. The songs on their debut record are driven with a knack for melody and a youthful excitement. Songs like "Hannah" showcase how endearing and immediate Freelance Whales can be.

For a band so much in the now, the use of more traditional acoustic instrumentation is intriguing. The appearance of banjo and harmonium certainly may cause you to pause, but only for a moment before you're caught up again in their infectious melodies.

While it"s easy to get wrapped up in blogger buzz and all the positive press, Freelance Whales nonetheless deliver both on album and on stage. They’ve emerged rather quickly, yet maintain potential and a wealth of staying power.

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