Smallpools
The Science of Letting Go EP
Reviewed by: Lauren Rosier
The science of letting go and moving on is something that we all can relate to in some way or another. For Los Angeles-based indie pop band, Smallpools, they get it. Listeners enjoy music that is relatable. On The Science of Letting Go, Los Angeles-based indie pop quartet, Smallpools, utilize real life experiences and translate them into a 5-song set of infectious indie pop.
Just take a listen to the first track off their brand new EP, The Science of Letting Go. What works on “Million Bucks” is similar to the success through the end of the 5-song collection. Lead vocalist Sean Scanlon’s sweet vocals on “Million Bucks” immediately mesmerizes you, reciting lyrics that paint a picture of a budding romance, “I’ve got all my money on you/and though my dollars are few/I feel like a million bucks/and I give no fucks/when I’m with you”.
Scanlon and company continue the journey on “DJs and Porsches”, an irresistible indie pop track that delivers a delicious, danceable groove paired with slick lyricism, “I chase blind faith/it’s brand new obsession/she’s a coping device/for another addiction/that I can romanticize”.
On “Centerfold”, sings of the challenges of being in the spotlight and how “you come to face your flaws/on the centerfold.”
In late July, we were introduced to the band’s new material with the release of the lead single “Passenger Side.” This track is classic Smallpools: an infectious, danceable groove paired with relatable lyrics “I feel that you might have always been right/and that we may not find partners in crime/better in life than we’ve had this whole time” that you can easily sing along to.
The band switches gears and ends the record with the emotionally raw “Mother”, a track about relationships and heartache, “if I’m this bad/is all those things you call me every night/you want me in your life/just to drag around/never living up to what you thought you found”. Besides just being an emotionally charged song, the band showcases its musicianship through the song’s huge, influential sound and guitar solo.
Smallpools’ infectious pop paired with their honest lyrics catapults the quartet to comparisons to bands like MisterWives, Panama Wedding, and more. One listen to The Science of Letting Go will leave you addicted and wanting more.
Rating: Bad-Ass
