Review Summary: Overall, they are a great up and coming band that will most likely rock the musical world. I think their only downfall is that of being in a genre with no shortage of music, and perhaps a shortage of listeners, and a vocalist that not all appreciate. For
Alternative Electronic Indie Pop has never sounded like this before… Well… I mean… not exactly like this. The up and coming Smallpools isn’t the first of its kind: a young, peppy, energetic band with an attraction to synth beats and symbols, but there is something that sets them apart from the crowd. First, I dare you to listen to the four-song EP without tapping your foot, breaking out in a smile like a fool, and/or singing along and cringing as you attempt to hit the high notes. Well… it’s not like there aren’t other catchy albums out there, right? The thing about Smallpools is not only the catchy choruses and the head-bobbing riffs, and the lyrics that can be interpreted somewhat like an ancient Chinese proverb, unlike “I Can Lift a Car” (not to be a Walk the Moon hater, but if you have tried to find a deeper meaning in that song, you will have probably ended up laughing because of the futility of the attempt), but their potential rivals that of “Imagine Dragons”. What they need is to break the mold. I personally think that this first EP is to get their name out there. I believe that they dipped their hand into a popular genre, and with their next album, will make a statement, creating something of their own genre. I may be wrong, but that’s what I see coming for them, and I believe they will be immensely successful. The first song of the EP, “Dreaming” is a pretty good definition of what Smallpools is. Upbeat, catchy, slightly electronic, maybe an excess of high vocals, and some impressive talent. “Mason Jar”, with a large amount of synthetic noises, is easy to get caught in your head. “Over & Over” with rhythmic guitar, and a chorus with lyrics that we can all relate to, is definitely one of the highlights of the EP. “No Story Time”, with slightly less synthetic noises, and a main focus on vocals is a little bit different than the rest, but still not something that you can turn off.
