SMALLPOOLS Become Social Butterflies on Latest Effort, So Social

Smallpools

By: Amelia Zollner

The indie rock band, Smallpools has already seen their fair share of success. From touring with popular acts such as Walk the Moon and Twenty One Pilots to gathering millions of listens with songs like “Dreaming” and “Million Bucks”, Smallpools isn’t new to making music.

After their 2015 album LOVETAP! gained traction in the indie rock community, Smallpools proceeded to release a variety of singles and EPs. Although they only have one album released, their discography is vast, filled with frequent releases, the newest of which is their EP So Social.

Released on December 7th, So Social is filled to the brim with diverse sounds that cater to anybody passionate about indie rock.

The EP begins with “Social”, a strong anthem that, although lively, discusses skipping out on social events and FOMO. “Social” features a breakdown section with robotic voices repeating the song’s title, which perfectly ties the song together and sets the tone for the rest of the EP.

The next track, “Stumblin’ Home”, is a pop-infused track filled with energetic trumpets and a catchy chorus, during which singer Sean Scanlon affectionately sings “And wondering how we got so lost / I'm stumblin', I'm stumblin' home.”

“Downtown Fool Around” is the EP’s heaviest song. It seems to be the centerpiece of the album, the band proudly framing their lyrics among powerful drums and raw, heavy guitars.

“People Watching” is a bit of a deviation from the group’s usual style: instead of the band’s typical guitar-driven choruses, the track’s percussion and synths let the lyrics take the spotlight and drive the song to resemble an ‘80s pop song.

The last track, “Beggar”, is undoubtedly the most pop-inspired out of the EP. Composed of drum machines and higher vocals, “Beggar” energetically closes out the EP on a note that leaves listeners pining for another new release from Smallpools.

Although So Social is only sixteen minutes long, it’s a brief and comprehensive showcase of the band’s versatile ability to create songs spanning across genres.