Floridian tour de force, Pool Kids, is here with their self-titled sophomore album, Pool Kids, and it could be what sends them into the stratosphere. Coming off the back of their raucous 2018 debut, Songs to Practice Safe Sex To, the group has been active on the road and, quite obviously, in the studio. Their self-described “math-inspired emo” has found resonance across the DIY and fifth-wave emo scenes. And while their ruthless touring schedule over the past four years has grown their following, their studio work is a standing testament to their incredible musicianship, catchy writing, phenomenal production, and (perhaps the hallmark of contemporary emo music) a juxtaposition of raw emotion and referential levity. Pool Kids is, as of this very moment, about to truly explode, and now is the time to get hip.
Pool Kids was telegraphed by three singles, “That’s Physics, Baby,” “I Hope You’re Right,” and “Arm’s Length.” Through singles alone, it was already evident that Pool Kids were hitting their stride. Lead single “That’s Physics, Baby” features several fantastic guitar melody lines and an earworm chorus that will live in your head rent-free for hours after listening. “I Hope You’re Right” showcases the production on this record with phenomenal balance between ambient synthesizer soundscaping, whispered vocals, and a percussion performance that moves between genres and styles with incredible fluidity; this single represents the diversity of sounds that Pool Kids can (and will) explore on their self-titled record. Final single, “Arm’s Length” is an endearing banger from the first sample. Whether they are bemoaning oversized group chats, modern workplace culture, strained relationships, or spending nights alone, Pool Kids offer unparalleled dynamic range on this track.
These three singles from Pool Kids were bundled together upon the release of “Arm’s Length” and, if released as a standalone EP, would have put plenty of releases to shame. Fortunately, though, Pool Kids have plenty of gas left in the tank to work with for this album. Broadly, Pool Kids is best described as: emotionally tumultuous lyricism; arpeggiated math-y guitars; thunderous, rock-solid drums; CDL-certified driving bass lines; catchy synth lines; and vocal performances that epitomize both quiet collapse and powerful, explosive force. This record has something for everyone, from the bedroom pop fanatic to the “OnLy ReAl EmO” insufferables; Pool Kids have come out swinging to say the least.
Pool Kids have taken the ethos of “hit hard, hit fast, hit often,” to heart from the opening of this self-titled; track three, “Almost Always Better (Almost Always Worse)” is the most experimental track on this record with odd time signatures, tempo changes, complex melodies and rhythms, and glitchy effects, Pool Kids are showing they aren’t afraid to push outside their comfort zone. And to top it all off, “Almost Always Better (Almost Always Worse)” fades perfectly into track four, “Further,” to build cohesion across the album and showcase the strength of the track order. It also doesn’t hurt that “Further” is yet another strong track on the record.
Track eight, “Swallow” is another contender for the highlight reel even after the first listen. It begins somewhat understated, as if heard through the wall, but builds rapidly with an equal parts bright and chest-collapsing bass riff along with a delectable guitar melody. “Swallow,” like “Arm’s Length,” is an exercise in dynamic range, moving between energetic highs and crushing, whisper-quiet lows. The production on this track comes to the forefront in the final vocoded chorus; acting as a compliment to the harmonies throughout the track (and all over this album), the final chorus gets a fresh textural contrast when it stands alone without accompaniment. The final shot of adrenaline for this track, though, is the outro’s final lines, “How the fuck am I convincing you?” which feel ready-made for sold-out crowds to pop-punk-point and shout along with.
Pool Kids is, in short, a strong AOTY contender by the end of track five, “Talk Too Much,” and only grows in unadulterated power by the closing track, “Pathetic.” Whether they are capitalizing on high octane future pit-anthems or soaking in reverb and opining life’s troubles, Pool Kids are ready for takeoff. Be sure to follow them on social media and catch them live with The Mountain Goats or Origami Angel and Insignificant Other when they hit the road this year because they are sure to electrify.
