1. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (1)
2. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (3)
3. GO – The Black Keys (2)
4. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (5)
5. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (10)
6. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (4)
7. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (8)
8. HEAT OF THE SUMMER – Young the Giant (9)
9. CIRCLES – Post Malone (20)
10. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (15)
11. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (13)
12. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (14)
13. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red featuring Dev (16)
14. FIGHTER – Joseph (18)
15. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (19)
16. 3 NIGHTS – Dominic Fike (6)
17. CRINGE – Matt Maeson (7)
18. WANNACRY – Darksoft (17)
19. DOIN’ TIME – Lana Del Rey (11)
20. GOODBYES – Post Malone featuring Young Thug (12)
21. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (22)
22. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (23)
23. 16 – Highly Suspect (28)
24. OBSESSION – Joywave (29)
25. FOUR WINDS – Unquiet Nights (21)
26. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (30)
27. YOU? – Two Feet (N)
28. STAY HIGH – Brittany Howard (N)
29. NO BULLETS SPENT – Spoon (N)
30. LONELY – Secret American (N)
1. SOCIAL CUES – Cage the Elephant (2)
2. GO – The Black Keys (1)
3. THE HYPE – twenty one pilots (5)
4. UNDER THE COLD LIGHT OF THE MOON – Crystal Cities (3)
5. GOOD THINGS FALL APART – ILLENIUM with Jon Bellion (7)
6. 3 NIGHTS – Dominic Fike (4)
7. CRINGE – Matt Maeson (6)
8. RAGGED TOWN – Second Player Score (9)
9. HEAT OF THE SUMMER – Young the Giant (10)
10. SOMEONE YOU LOVED – Lewis Capaldi (11)
11. DOIN’ TIME – Lana Del Rey (8)
12. GOODBYES – Post Malone featuring Young Thug (12)
13. THE MIDDLE – Agency Panic (16)
14. SECRETS – The Million Reasons (17)
15. DISSOLVE – Absofacto (18)
16. UNDER THESE SCARS – Falling Into Red featuring Dev (19)
17. WANNACRY – Darksoft (20)
18. FIGHTER – Joseph (25)
19. UNDERGROUND – MISSIO (26)
20. CIRCLES – Post Malone (N)
21. FOUR WINDS – Unquiet Nights (13)
22. DESERVING OF LOVE – Lyia Meta (24)
23. DRIFTING AWAY – Stereohaze (27)
24. COMING UP FOR AIR – Mars Motel (14) 19th week on list
25. RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE DEVIL – Revolvers (15) 18th week on list
26. THIS LIFE – Vampire Weekend (21)
27. WHEN AM I GONNA LOSE YOU – Local Natives (23)
28. 16 – Highly Suspect (29)
29. OBSESSION – Joywave (30)
30. WHITE LIES & PALM TREES – The Lovepools (N)
Though they’re located in Los Angeles, a roughly two-hour drive from my home in the Coachella Valley, it was through my Twitter friend Mark Winder (theretweeter) – who lives in Northern Ireland – that I learned about indie pop-rock band The Lovepools. Formed in 2017, the undeniably charismatic trio consists of singer-songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Anthony Shea, bassist/vocalist Aria Cruz, and drummer Fabrizio Cavallaro. They call their music “indie rock for hopeless romantics”, and with their melodic, Britpop/shoegazey vibe, not to mention Shea’s vocal style, they do sound like they could be from the UK. Their music also reminds me a bit of Saint Motel, another L.A. band I really like.
The Lovepools in short order released a couple of EPs, as well as a terrific single “See You In The Funny Papers” that was featured on the Season 9 premiere of the Showtime hit series Shameless. In July 2018, they released their first album The Catch, which included all of their recorded songs up to that point. One of the highlights is the gorgeous “A Dixie Cup to Save You”, but they’re all great songs, and I strongly urge my readers to check them out on one of the music platforms listed at the end of this review.
They returned in August 2019 with their latest single “White Lies & Palm Trees“, a beautiful, dreamy track that the band states is “a departure from their guitar-based indie-rock roots into a new synth-pop sound.” The song was written by Anthony Shea and Taylor Ravenna, and was inspired by Shea’s monotonous experiences living in L.A. (but honestly, I know from my own experience that monotony can occur pretty much everywhere). The track has a sunny, dream pop vibe, thanks to an exuberant, sweeping melody and lush, sparkling synths that offer a hopeful antidote to the numbing monotony expressed in the lyrics. Shea’s upbeat vocals are wonderful, as are the guys’ soaring harmonies in the choruses. It’s a fantastic song, and sure to be a hit for The Lovepools.
Living in a daydream Dark eyes, eighteen Trusting everyone you meet
Every day’s the same thing White lies, Palm trees Broken hearts on every street
Oh, light up and let yourself go Oh, go make your way back home
Driving Sunset all night Stoned eyes, red lights Kissing ’til the light turns green
Every night’s the same thing Dark skies, palm trees Broken glass on every street
Oh, light up and let yourself go Oh, go make your way back home
Lights upon the hillside Fade away as you drive by Time is on your side Not on your mind But it’s all you have to live by
The Lovepools are playing a show tonight at Mal’s Bar in Downtown Los Angeles, and another show on Wednesday, October 16th at Good Times at Davey Wayne’s in Hollywood.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 