Smittens, The - City Rock Dove |

6-piece indiepop band that make upbeat and introspective tunes, tinged with vulnerability and optimism. Theyve long since left behind the label of being a cute or twee band since their debut album 15 years ago. City Rock Dove is instead an album of transition, ennui and nihilism; honing in on personal politics and gender queerness. The album opens with the coming-out anthem Three States, Danas very personal tale of change. His vocals for the song were recorded over 2 years during the course of his gender transition. Gender and sexuality are behind Cats for Cats, taking a gay dating app cliche (masc. for masc.) as the opening refrain, and contemplating being 40, in a long term relationship and how freedom of experimentation always comes with its own costs. Infinity Pools is a homage to Spanish tontipop, and also inspired by Maxs longstanding love of tropicalia. Missy takes the lead on album closer Prince of Sweden, a love letter to Scandinavia. I love Cole Porters song Youre the Top because its a rolling list of things that are the best-of-the-best and being the Prince of Sweden seemed like it could be one of those at least as good as being compared to cellophane. No political innuendo intended. Max Andrucki, Missy Bly, Colin Clary, Dana Kaplan, Holly Chagnon, and David Zacharis switch up instruments, song-writing, and singing to create catchy, harmony-driven pop anthems and love songs always brilliantly lyrical, and often brazenly political. Theyre based in Burlington, Vermont and in New York City. City Rock Dove is their 6th studio album. each and every song they write is a rampant musical pleasure they could force a smile on the sourest face. Bearded Magazine