Just as whimsically authentic as their last, Small Crush’s sophomore album brings twee’s nostalgic and sentimental attitude into the indie rock scene.
Penelope, which was released on Sept. 15th, takes the band’s patchwork sound and reinvents it. Just like fixing your favourite sweater with a different kind of stitch, Penelope’s first song “Rumblin Tummy” is a reinvention of “Tummy Rumblin,” the fourth track on their first album.
Featuring the same childish story of love and whim, “Rumblin Tummy” trades the original song’s simple guitar rhythm and basic drum beat for something a bit more intricate. In doing this, Small Crush showcases just how far they have come since 2019. Leaving the listener with the same funny feeling of youthful glee as the original had, “Rumblin Tummy” has a crisp and deliberate sound that far surpasses that of “Tummy Rumblin.”
The second track “5,” invites the listener back through the door of their childhood home and into the world of their five-year-old selves. A wistful longing for the innocence of childhood, Small Crush’s “5” explores the ridiculousness of youth. Lyrics like “Playing Zelda on my Game Boy Advance / Singing out of tune and not caring how I dance” remind the listener of what it means to be a kid. With a run time of only 1:45, the song is over just as fast as childhood passes by.
“Ecosystem”, one of Penelope’s three singles, pokes at a childhood bruise you forgot you had. With lyrics such as “Ooh / I’m tired of the way I’m living / Ooh / Time for some fresh air breathing,” the listener is reminded of how fleet life is. The third verse, “There is so much beauty out here / So much unseen / If I could describe it somehow / It would be a dream,” highlights how Logan Hammon, the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter has let the beauty of the world pass her by.
The song floats nostalgically through the waters of growing up, examining exactly what it means to outgrow the negative outlook of youth and see life for its unpredictable beauty.
Penelope continues to peel back layers like an onion, the latter half of the album punctuated by moments of quiet serenity and wistful beauty, especially in the track “Running.”
Examining a desperate love shared between the singer and her partner, Hammon pleads with her lover. The lyrics suggest that although her partner has been busy, she promises that she could make a few fleeting moments together worth their time. This connection does not stand the test of time as she goes on to ask the other person if they “Could watch [her] fall / And not come [her] way” because she doesn’t think she can see her previous partner face to face.
The versatility of tracks like “Runner” allows for Small Crush’s patchwork versatility to shine as they move from head-bopping pop to introspective indie rock.
The raw energy Small Crush brought to their sophomore album Penelope makes all the difference when comparing it to the album that came before. Effortlessly moving between sounds and genres, Penelope never forgets where it came from and where it is attempting to go.
