Tiny Little Houses put their contemporaries on notice with Idiot Proverbs, a refined ten-track album that’s friendly on the ears while still pushing an undercurrent of hook-driven grunt.
Singer/guitarist Caleb Karvountzis deserves credit for his lyricism, boiling down complex youth-focused struggles into quick, digestible bursts. From start to finish, issues like growing up young and broke, societal pressures to find a steady partner and other ‘20-years-and-older’ gripes of life are delivered without being dragged out into a punishing groan. Here they’re stories told in a punchy, agreeable fashion. Backed by grungy, fuzzed-out riffs, clean indie segments, immaculate production and hooky drums, the album has all the hallmarks of a good modern indie record.
At the end of the day, Idiot Proverbs feels calculated. It doesn’t get bogged down in theatrics and it doesn’t try to pretend to be something that it’s not. It’s got relatable character and enough good hooks to keep you listening from start to finish – for this, it’s definitely worth your attention.
8/10
