Ahab tried sundry tactics in the pursuit of his mythic prey, but he never fashioned a lure out of indie rock. His mistake. The siren call of scruffy guitars and brainy vocals would surely have baited this bunch, who mix lullaby balladry with frenzied baroque pop.
In White Whale's maiden voyage, WWI, all glory and honor is theirs. Amassing the power of the Big Star with the fury of the Sabbath (Black) and the mesmerizing wiles of the Badfinger, the gentlemen of White (F-in') Whale are not afraid to ask the musical question "What's an Ocean For?" Beware ye Decemberists and those who would set the Arcade (a)Fire, the Okkervil River can not contain the enormity of White Whale.