Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Chop Shop Records

www.wearethelittleones.com

The Little Ones isn't a band a grown man should admit listening to. For starters, saying "I like The Little Ones" could be taken the wrong way. Second, their cheery, happy, clappy So-CaIsunshine-pop is disgustingly cute, like watching a rabbit orgy. But darnnit if it ain't catchy. Their full-length debut, Morning Tide, bursts with energetic, melodic harmonies. "Ordinary Song" is the masterpiece that indie pop bands hope to create, but tender vocalist Ed Reyes and Co. (which includes brother Brian on bass and keys) make it seem so easy. Critics may dismiss the band for being too bubblegum in our current climate - of the 11 tracks on the album, there are only two slowdowns, "Waltz" and melancholic closer "Farm Song" - but we all need a bit of escapism every now and then. Morning Tide is it. - Zoneil Maharaj