Whales is a rock band. There’s no other way to say it. This four piece band uses all the standard instruments and makes straight to the point rock and roll. This is not an insult. These folks are doing rock and roll very well.

First of all, that guitar solo on “Salt” is one of the best things I’ve heard an electric guitar do in quite some time. Whales continually uses the word “noise” in descriptions of their sound, and there are points in their music when that seems totally appropriate. That guitar solo is one. I want to know about whatever the fuzz or overdrive/distortion pedal that was involved in the production of that sound.

This band is sort of like Smashing Pumpkins and Silversun Pickups became even more apathetic, went on a camping trip into a cave for a couple weeks, and recorded an album. They’ve been around since 2009 and they show no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Whales would be so much worse with a male vocalist. I was really worried that they were going to be ultra stereotypically and boring, but Maigin Blank’s vocals really keep this band from falling into disappointing normalcy. I’ve seen the term “flat lined” used to describe her singing, and I’d have to agree in the accuracy of that.

Whales plays around Chicago quite a bit. Go see them. At the least, go to their BandCamp page and listen to their album sometime when you’re ready to take in a full length work of noise rock.