Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop

On their adorable if- derivative debut LP, Weathervanes, Freelance Whales earned a reputation as middling indie-pop piggie-backers, unfairly feasting on Ben Gibbard’s melodic marrow and Sufjan Steven’s epic, banjo-fueled orchestral-folk sweep. Those criticisms won’t cease a bit with the slightly synth-ier, Diluvia, a sophomore effort that’s short on innovation but huge on
beauty. Freelance Whales remain vulnerable to toxic whimsy – the gushing, overstuffed “Locked Out” is Polyphonic Spree in principle but Owl City in execution (even if it’s redeemed by an impressionistic synth squiggle coda), and at a certain point, enough’s enough with the damn glockenspiels. But these eager tunesmiths aim huge with style: On infectious, prog-pop band-geek anthems like “Dig Into Waves” and “Spitting Image,” their big-hearted, ultra-melodic charm is more than enough to seal the deal.