Penelope Isles - “Terrified”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Grizzly Bear, Whitney, Delta Spirit

Falling in the gap between melancholy and upbeat, Penelope Isles’ sophomore record Which Way to Happy has a brightness to it, peeking out from within their breezy, dream rock atmosphere. The album is both dense and comfortable, guitar and keys melodies in tight counterpoint for a full-throated sound. Those shoegaze-inspired moments are where the band shines best, layering more and more instead of fading out gently. There’s a nice dichotomy working between charming twee melodies (“Play It Cool”, “Sudoku”) and hypnotic, post-punk drivers like “Miss Moon” and infectious opener “Terrified”, adding depth to the what could be a relatively light presentation from a different perspective. Psychedelic pop (“Pink Lemonade”), bedroom folk (“11 11”), and ambient pop (closer “In A Cage”) that make up the back half of Which Way to Happy display a unit willing to experiment and all together form a well-rounded, salient effort. (Kevin McStravick)