Small Million - “Good Impressions”
USA-based Small Million have returned with the atmospheric indie pop/rock “Good Impressions.” Just make sure you’re strapped in before you press play.
The song has a subtle, gentle, and calm beginning, with some dreamy electric rhythm guitar creating an atmospheric backdrop to the stunning vocal delivery. There is a great sense of space, thanks to all the reverb. Bass subtly pulses underneath and, as the song develops, percussion is added. All of these elements lead the listener unsuspectingly into the brewing storm.
On my first play of this song, I was only semi listening with likely a cat annoying me for cat treats. But Small Million are one of those bands that rightfully demand your attention. The first hint of change comes in the tone of the vocal delivery. This change gives us only a brief amount of time to find something to cling onto before we are thrust into one hell of an anthemic storm.
And once this storm hits, there is an undeniable anger that permeates the song, whether through the passionate vocal delivery or the blistering electric guitars that give a real sense of size and depth. However, Small Million harness and channel this anger into a liberating anthem that doesn’t care about societal norms or expectations The vocals are outstanding throughout. Reflective, gentle, passionate, and angry, but the delivery is always convincing. Layers of backing vocals also give a rich sense of harmony and mass to the song.
Small Million say: ““Good Impressions” is about aging out of caring what people think of you, of no longer staying a minute longer than you’re having fun at the party. The song embodies both the empowerment and the undercurrent of anguish therein, the tension between wanting to connect with people and wanting to be alone, between following your intuition and being unwilling to abandon your comfort zone.”
“Good Impressions” is, quite frankly, a song that will demand your attention. It is 100% an anthem and will effortlessly underline why this band are going to go places.