The Small Calamities
“Jangly modern rock that rings with the contagious indie of Nada Surf and Jimmy Eat World.” - Glide
“A lyrical world of wonder: imagery-laden anecdotes, poison-tipped confessionals, wistful narratives, all flying past on shimmering melodies.” – Buzzbands.la
On their new LP designer heartache, Southern California trio The Small Calamities stay true to the melody-first philosophy of their folk roots while venturing further into the world of Alternative Pop with an easy confidence. Working with such talented collaborators as Michael Brauer (Coldplay, Ben Folds, Grandaddy) and Vince Ratti (Brand New, The Wonder Years), The Small Calamities meld straight-to-the-heart pop hooks and immaculate production into a radio-ready, ambitious sound. Spend some time with the music, though, and you’ll find that designer heartache. was crafted with intention; the undeniable choruses ride on a bed of intricate, exquisite arrangement.
“In some ways, we are a late 1990’s alt-rock band that happened to form in 2015” laughs vocalist / guitarist / producer Charlie Wolf. Deftly blending the hallmark approach to songwriting of that era with sweeping synths and arena-ready refrains, designer heartache. marks a quantum leap in the development of a sound hinted at in 2015’s Angels and Commerce and the 2018 limited-edition Champaign Finance.
Wolf and the core group of bassist Christian Kalafut and drummer Hayden Parker cut their teeth playing clubs and cafes in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Having spent the last several years honing their distinct sound. Tracked at a brace of California recording studios, the record features an astonishing list of guest instrumentation ranging from mandolin and dobro to the Macedonian Radio Symphonic Orchestra.
Thematically, designer heartache. delves into the uniquely modern conceit that while technology has led to a sense of vast interconnectedness the reality is that many people are feeling lonelier than ever. Despite the heady subject matter at handy, however, fans should rest assured that “we’re gonna get pretty loud,” says Wolf. “I had to buy a big jar of earplugs from Walgreens. They’re not very good.”
RIYL: Nada Surf, Said The Whale, Jimmy Eat World, Death Cab For Cutie, The National, War On Drugs
DIRTY: #2, 3, 6, 12, 13 (clean version of album available on downloads page)
TRY: #1, 6, 4 (and clean version of #2)
Download full album here:
https://www.piratepirate.com/downloads/
More Info Here:
https://smallcalamities.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SmallCalamities
https://www.instagram.com/SmallCalamities/
https://twitter.com/smallcalamities