It doesn’t get more adorable than the story of the starry-eyed lovers in the dynamic husband-and-wife duo Tennis. Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley met while studying philosophy in college. After eloping and going on a seven month sailing trip, the pair came back to form the always pleasant band, Tennis.
Small Sound is the kind of album that will force a smile to spread from ear to ear. Whether it is through the sweet and loving lyrics or the way Moore’s comforting voice perfectly harmonizes with these uplifting songs, these songs simply bring on mounds of happiness.
That’s the thing about Tennis. They don’t try to overcomplicate their music, they just try to brighten the day of their listeners. It must be said, however, it’s nearly impossible to fail with a voice like Moore’s paving the way. The only way they could fall from favor is if they let their songwriting slip, which Small Sound screams will NEVER happen.
“Timothy,” although not intended to highlight this album, clearly steals the spotlight in Small Sound. This song feels like a sunny day on a tropical island. The song combines touching lyrics (“Say something sweet to me/Say it slowly until you believe”), with a whimsical harmony of “Whoa-ohs” shimmering in the background.
The first song on this album, “Mean Streets,” has a groove to it that forces the head to bob. Through the layers of sound there is an elegant yet relaxed feeling—flawlessly melding her sweet voice with simplistic background percussion. It was a great way to start off this marvelous album.
Small Sound is only five songs in total, but worth every second of listening. This band has a sound that is far from small and filled with whimsy and joy. If you fall hard for Tennis after listening to this splendid album, be sure to catch them live in Madison Nov. 20.
Rating: A-
