Smallpools has been living the dream since their debut single, "Dreaming", dropped to almost instant critical and popular acclaim. The band has since put out and EP that was just as successful, and is currently selling out shows left and right as they tour with fellow indie-pop standouts Magic Man and Panama Wedding. "Karaoke" is their latest single to be released in anticipation of their debut album coming soon, and it's a big, almost anthemic piece of pop music that manages to retain honesty despite clearly being one of those songs that you just know will be getting all sorts of airtime on the radio and lots of love on Top 40 lists. Normally we'd be skeptical of big tracks like this that were tailor-made to fill arenas, but "Karaoke" follows up some of the best new pop we've heard in a while, and the band has really hit the nail on the head when it comes to the song's actual sound. We're introduced to the effort with remarkably heavy reverbs, giving the impression that it is, in fact, being played in front of tons of excited concertgoers. This style of recording is a fresh change of pace, and quite possibly prophetic when you take into account the band's success trajectory over this past year. It's not quite as precise or sharp as some other songs in its category, but there's an organic quality to it that will have you hooked, and the slower delivery is simultaneously relaxing and invigorating. We've been fans of Smallpools for a while now, but it's nice to see that they're going to be able to keep building steam with this upcoming album. It should have some nice variety to it, and ensure that they get as good a shot as any of becoming a household name.
Smallpools