The Lighthouse & the Whaler/Nick D & the Believers/Polars

For their latest album, Mont Royal, local indie rockers the Lighthouse and the Whaler headed north of the border to Montreal to record with Marcus Paquin (The National, Arcade Fire). They worked at his studio in Montreal for five weeks in the dead of winter when it was “freezing.” Songs such as “Glory” feature bellowing vocals as it sounds like a veritable choir backs singer Michael LoPresti on the tune. The song “Senses” features a slew of synthesizers, making it sound like an homage to the synth-pop of the ’80s. “We Aren’t Who We Thought We Are” includes soaring strings as LoPresti nearly adopts a falsetto to sing about “our last chance.” It's a great album, deserving of the national attention it's received. (Niesel)