SAN JOSE, CA – September 15, 2023 – Today, indie rock group Small Crush released their sophomore album Penelope via Asian Man Records, full of introspective anthems for the glade-dwelling fairy folk and daydreaming urban denizens of the world alike.
LISTEN: https://ffm.to/penelope
From the opening lines of the first track to the final languid echo of “Sweetest,” Penelope perfectly encapsulates Small Crush’s ability to find an old bruise you didn’t know you had and serve as the soothing balm for it all at once. Long past their tender beginnings, the band kicks off the album with “Rumblin’ Tummy,” a song that reworks an old fan favorite from their self-titled album. Alongside the rest of Penelope, the track shows that the raw, childlike whimsy that once characterized their music now exists in harmony with a polished brilliance. It catches the light as the band delivers their token “sweetheart rock” sound with practiced dexterity.
As the album rolls on, listeners will encounter meandering tracks like “Falling,” and “Running,” embarking on a journey from bittersweet nostalgia or heartache to the saccharine, summery vibes and indie-punk fluorescence of “Be Back Soon” and “This Time Around.” Penelope is equal parts innocence and keenly perceptive philosophical musings. “Penelope, a name I called everything I could when I was little,” explains frontwoman Logan Hammon, “is filled with mixed emotions of growing out of childhood and figuring out who you are along the way. I hope it brings reflection and comfort to anyone who listens to know they aren’t alone in their feelings.”
Small Crush tackles the delicate intricacies of the human condition, weaving through deeply resonant themes like emotional resilience, self-doubt, and grappling with the passage of time. In “This Time Around,” Hammon croons, “Through it all, there is no way out. I don’t know what I should do next / and if I could turn back the time maybe it would all just make some sense.” Eventually, the band pivots from uncertainty and longing to self-assuredness and leaves listeners with one final message in “Sweetest,” the enchanting final act of the album: “Something just feels right / An unbreakable light / Is shining on my face / Didn’t know I can feel this way / Didn’t know I could feel this way.”
Penelope Tracklist:
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Rumblin’ Tummy
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5
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Broke Both Your Legs
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Ecosystem
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Falling
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Be Back Soon
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Home
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Running
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This Time Around
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Sweetest
Penelope is available on digital streaming platforms, vinyl, and compact disc via Asian Man Records.
Small Crush will also soon be embarking on tour supporting Jeff Rosenstock in November and December.
Small Crush Tour Dates
Supporting Jeff Rosenstock:
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Nov 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
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Nov 27 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
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Nov 28 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
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Nov 30 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
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Dec 1 – Austin, TX @ Empire Garage
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Dec 2 – Dallas, TX @ Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ
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Dec 3 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
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Dec 5 – Denver, CO @ Summit
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Dec 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
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Dec 8 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall
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Dec 10 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
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Dec 11 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
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Dec 14 – Reno, NV @ The Holland Project
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Dec 15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
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Dec 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
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Dec 17 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park