Ez Luscombe
Pool Kids are no strangers to switching up their sound, and despite Easier Said Than Done being significantly more polished with sleek production courtesy of Mike Vernon Davis, (Foxing, Great Grandpa) they still remain true to their ethos, and their brand of captivating math rock, emo and pop-rock is still present on their latest release.
Title track, first single, and album opener ‘Easier Said Than Done’ is a combination of lush harmonies, dreamy guitars that take inspiration from 90’s shoegaze, intricate background riffs, and Davis’s production which adds a glossy shimmer over the entire album; a captivating backdrop for their slice-of-life and contemplative lyrics that clearly sets Pool Kids apart from many of their emo contemporaries. Frontwoman Christine Goodwyn’s soft, yet powerhouse vocals may have significantly less edge compared to older tracks such as ‘$5 Subtweet’ but they still add a significant and commendable level of depth and emotion on the majority of Easier Said Than Done’s track listing; which will make you contemplate life, and cry hysterically into a pillow in equal measures.
One of the continuous themes of the album is the concept of lost love, the loss of past friendships and nostalgia, which will surely resonate with the average emo who came of age in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s whereas the more pop-punk tracks, such as ‘Leona Street’ and ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ have a level of biting self-reflection and can both be interpreted in a way that celebrates personal growth whilst also looking fondly at the past, the person that you used to be, and friendships that shaped you as a person.
Another clear standout track on Easier Said Than Done is ‘Last Word’, lyrically deals with the emotions after a raw and bitter breakup and with Goodwyn’s forceful vocal tone against a powerful mosaic of twinkly guitars and a wall of distortion, it’s very easy for Pool Kids to win you over as an ensemble and the sheer variety of lyrical themes on their latest album is highly admirable for a relatively new band. From the raw emotion on slow-burner ‘Dani’ and the Phoebe Bridgers inspired folk ballad ‘Perfect View’ is further proof that Pool Kids are more than just stereotypical emo breakup songs and are more than capable of making emotional and thought-provoking content, which will hit you right in the feels.
Overall, Easier Said Than Done is an album that may not strike a chord with emo purists, but Pool Kids have been successfully honing their craft for over seven years and with endorsement from pop-punk icon Hayley Williams and extensive touring both as a solo artist and with post-hardcore juggernauts La Dispute, it’s always exciting to see what musical direction Pool Kids will dive into next.
Easier Said Than Done is out 15th of August via Epitaph Records