Little Image - Self Titled

Little Image, or little image, or my favourite and most aesthetically pleasing littleimage. is an alternative pop band from Dallas Texas. The band features the talents of Jackson Simmons (vocals, guitar), Troy Bruner (drums) and Brandon Walters (bass, synth). This is what passes for alternative nowadays.

Yeah, I am old. Well, oldish, but it's all relative. Still, gotta give these kids props. They're a band, and band's are not the flavour of the day. Hollywood Records may or may not have the cachet they once had when they were the home of Queen and Fastball. They're still a major label in an age when I have no idea what labels are supposed to do for an artist. I suppose if I had the time I could write a letter to Ashton Ulrich and Mike Daly the dynamic duo who are the band's A&R team and ask them.

Self Titled is another one of those Marco Polo Platters I shelled out less than ten bucks for. I don't know why I just don't take a picture of the album and then go home and stream it, I doubt they'll see any revenue from the physical sale. Actually I do know. It's because I'm old and I love the surprise of being surprised. I did sort of cheat as I looked up the band to see what genre they were at least. 

Alternative Pop.

Fine I can live with that. There's a chance I'll like this ... there's a chance I won't. I've at least tried to hedge my bets.

It's a nice package, pretty red record, and a gatefold. The lyrics are printed in a 4 point font designed to irritate old people who need readers. I wish there were more credits for the songs, and who played what but I'll just assume the guys were a self contained unit. 

So how is it? It's pretty good, catchy at times really catchy. Jackson Simmons has a pleasant voice although like so many new pop singers he seems to love the affected extra sibilance. This vocal affectation was once the bread and butter of the mumbling alt rock folk singer but has crossed over into so many modern recordings. I get that there may be a perceived emotional payoff by introducing a "SH" into every "S" but at some point it just sounds like an old man's lisp. Adopting what is essentially the John Herbert (oh, I like those kidsh) lissssshp without the whistle is not endearing.

What makes it so befuddling (I did say I was old, I am technically the last year to qualify as a boomer) is that the songs here are often really good and on those moments when Mister Simmons (trying to be respectful) sings straight he calls to mind Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance. Then again, I don't have the deepest knowledge pool for a lot of new pop so my references are more like me trying to catch a fart in a jar. I wonder if Ashton and Mike ("we don't hear a shingle") encouraged the extra sibilance. It must drive engineers crazy trying to de ess and compress and limit the vocals. I wonder how many just give up and throw a thumbs up and call it a day.

Regardless, this is a pretty cool record. Although this is new alternative pop, it's really interesting to me to hear the echoes of the music I grew up with resonating through the songs. Apparently "Out of My Mind" peaked at number 3 on the US alternative charts ... which must mean something to somebody. I don't know if it translates into sales or streams. It is a really good song though.

I had hoped that with repeated spins the vocal affectations would lessen and fade, but they didn't. It was like trying to ignore a pebble in your shoe. Which for me sucked, but then again I'm likely not the target audience, and there's a reason there's supposed to be a generation gap ... this isn't for me, and that's the way it's supposed to be.

However, it doesn't mean that I can't and don't enjoy new music. It's just a little harder to hit the centre on the musical Venn diagram. littleimage. hit it musically all the way through, and despite my constant shots about the vocals. This was really a very nice surprise, it may sound like new alternative pop to their ears, but to me there's a distinct retro vibe running through the tracks that makes me happy.  

I also get the sense that Jackson, Troy and Brandon try really hard to be accessible and grounded. Their songs are published by NOEGOINTHISROOM (ASCAP) and even the lead off song "Ego" reads like a treatise on not being a dick.

I'm not sure how often I'll spin this but I did add it to my streaming library and it makes me feel happy knowing that there are still bands out there.