The Little Ones - Sing Song

Describing The Little Ones' début EP may be easier if I mention the following: The art work is by Jesse DeLoux (The Shins). They share a record label with the Magic Numbers. Their influences are cited as "thought bubbles and laughter," and their definition of an "appropriate" song, is one that makes them shuffle their feet. With me? A voice pitched somewhere between Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) and James Walsh (Starsailor) bounces over ubiquitous hand-claps and dense, collegiate rock instrumentation that, despite being unremittingly sweet, is seldom nauseating. Their attitude is summed up in opener 'Let Them Ring The Bells': "...and we don't have a lot to say." Herein lies the appeal of The Little Ones: social commentators they are not, purveyors of sunshine rock par excellence, they most certainly are. This is apolitical, carefree pop music that could go horribly awry in the wrong hands, but in this case, it's a breath of fresh air. [Finbarr Bermingham]