The Dear Hunter piqued my interest as one of the most vibrant storytellers in alternative and indie rock. Whisper was my first contact with the band, and to this day still the best I've heard from them.
From the getgo, Whisper already has this colourful and elegant identity to it, as if this song had a soul. Incorporating symphonic elements alongside an alt rock sound with folk influence results in a very unique and powerful blend that I can best describe as a cheerful anthem.
It's fast paced in the get-out-of-bed-and-do-things way, happy in the realist sort of way, and inspirational in the nihilistic sort of way. There's something quite unexplainably unique about this song that no other song from any other genre has come close to replicating.
I love the multitude of musical tidbits scattered throughout the song. Little melodies on different instruments taking turns going off throughout the verses, they give the song so much life. The drumming is joined by a joyful tambourine in the second verse, which is a subtle touch that I enjoy.
The layers that they have going on in the chorus makes it so energetic and euphoric, especially with how explosive it feels coming out of the verse. The vocals are so passionate, they invoke such a strong emotion that's somewhere in between inspirational, monumental and cathartic. It definitely makes me feel, and occasionally gives me goosebumps.
The lyrical content plays an important role in making this song so good. A standout is the line right before the chorus, which I think is both one of the best lines of all time as well as one of the nicest vocal melodies possible for it.
It's no wonder this is one of their best songs, it's so well-written, has so much sentiment to it, and it's so uniquely energetic and beautiful. I found this song alongside EDEN's Wake Up, and the pair of them irrevocably changed my life and musical journey. With that kind of significance, there's no doubt on what rating this song will get from me.
Rating: 4.5/5