POLLEN, TENNIS
Tennis has now hit their 6-album mark with Pollen. Laced with their intimate lyrics and colorful production, they show they’ve just started.
Indie Pop duo Tennis has nearly done it all—they've gotten married, lived on a boat and sailed the Atlantic seaboard, formed a band, and most recently hit their 6-album mark with Pollen. The album is laced with their distinct, intimate lyrics and colorful, crisp production and blooms forth a new direction in the duo's musical journey.
The album marks the third entry since their signature style of confectionary pop sounds debuted on their 2017 album Yours Conditionally. However, they tweak their formula by strengthening elements and introducing new ones. The opening track, "Forbidden Doors," immerses listeners with Alaina's silky vocals, crisp piano chords, guitar riffs, and punchy bass and drums. Songs like "Gibraltar" and "Paper" shine as some of the band's best, while "Never Been Wrong" creates a beautiful moment on the album with a lush choir-like chant. In a time when indie pop seems repetitive, they've made a noticeable effort to try new things while staying true to themselves.
When paired with their vibrant production, Pollen's lyrics circle around more intimate themes such as love, loss, and the large impact of little things in life. Two songs reminisce about their first meeting, with one of them working at a Valet, and how it led to a love they can't get enough of. In contrast, "Pollen Song" details how something like Pollen can ruin one's experience of beauty and remind oneself of their weakness. Regardless, the duo reminds us: "I can't help it, I can't walk away; take my pain with pleasure any day."
Sources used:
Tennis: Pollen Album Review - Pitchfork https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tennis-pollen/amp/