Mammoth Penguins - “Closure”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Snail Mail, beabedoobee, Charly Bliss

Mammoth Penguins somehow pull off a bright, yet melancholy, tone on their latest LP There’s No Fight We Can’t Both Win, seesawing between exploding grunge-rock guitars and breezy indie pop across the consistent rock record. Their songwriting is both looming and charming, wrapping little love and breakup songs around cool lyrical twists. It’s a forthright sound and emits a sense of relatability, a relationship record that moves from yearning (“I Wanna”) to just wanting to get away (“Trust Me”). Instead of just sounding morose and tender, Mammoth Penguins’ music drives with hooked rock phrases and enough feedback heaviness to give their presentations depth around catchy guitar and vocal melodies. Add in the full-throated, affecting vocals of front woman Emma Kupa and it adds up to rock-solid indie rock coming from any era. The UK trio has struck a similar sound on two previous records Hide and Seek and John Doe, though they’ve evolved their garage pop sound with tight performance and cleaned-up production significantly on their latest full-length. (Kevin McStravick)