2006, Barsuk
The latest from the acclaimed indie pop sisters that make up Smoosh, Free to Stay, opens with a full display of the youngsters' aptitude for songwriting. Chloe and Asya, at only 12 and 14 respectively, have already proven themselves with the release of the well-regarded She Like Electric in 2004 at the ages of 10 and 12. What's most remarkable is not just that Smoosh is a band that's comprised of two young girls, but that the songwriting is remarkably mature and refined.
Free to Stay is incredibly easy to listen to and enjoy, and despite all of the to-do about the girls' ages, there is undoubtedly something much deeper to Smoosh. There's something about the soulful vocal strains, bouncy piano playing, and the ever important (but certainly not over the top, by any stretch of the imagination) drum rhythms that, once arranged properly, allows for a certain musical congeniality that most bands strive for, but few ever manage to achieve.
Songs like "Find a Way," which serves as a perfect introduction to the two-piece (it's poppy, it's catchy, and it's definitely a good sign for the album,) and "This Is Not What We've Become" (which adds a slightly ominous downbeat feel to the album) demonstrate a fuller breadth of Smoosh's songwriting. It really is amazing -- a band like Smoosh, one comprised of two girls that haven't yet delved into high school, can take the musical world by storm -- and it's not just their age driving their success; it's their music, too.