ALBUM REVIEW: and everybody else smiled back – Bears In Trees

Doing things the DIY way is something that comes naturally to self-proclaimed ‘dirty boyband’ BEARS IN TREES. Building the band based on vital factors including being childhood and college friends first and foremost, their sharp, savvy and super clever use of social media has seen them cultivate a following in the hundreds of thousands. The South Londoners are the modern version of a group based out of 00s emo-pop and the golden age era of boy bands, bringing all this flavour into 2021 with their brand of highly catchy basement boyband tunes.

Their debut album, and everybody else smiled back, arrives on November 19th via Counter Intuitive Records, and features singles Great Heights and I’m Doing Push Ups, both nostalgic looks back at youthful long lasting days spent kipping on a mates’ floors and worrying about unhealthy relationships. It feels like a coming of age record that dwells on the past, mentally battling with some of the best and worst days of your life. 

A concept record of sorts and something of a living story within itself, and everybody else smiled back starts on an infectious indie-pop note with opener Cut Corners On Short Walks. Soothing echoes of the electric guitar mixed with the gentleness of the acoustic and calming gang vocals bounce off each other, serving as an instant slice of blissful indie-pop heaven, one which reminisces about hazy days holding hands on walks. The quintessential essence of youth is captured in a picture perfect song, all in under four minutes.  

Turning to the aforementioned singles, I’m Doing Push Ups recalls a time of guitarist Nicholas Peters‘ first year of university and deals with the array of emotions that come at such a pivotal time of life, from finding relationships to grappling with the student lifestyle. The second single, Great Heights, takes a trip down memory lane to those long winding nights that feel like they are never going to end. One thing that remains to be said about both of these singles and the album as a whole is that the themes it recalls, from first time independence to emotional trauma and picking yourself and your friends back up in the aftermath, are all too relatable to the best of us. 

Elsewhere, tracks like Heaven Is Sent In A Coffee Cup, Keep It Easy and Sun Machine serve as some of the album’s standout songs. Tranquil and chilled out easy listening tunes that give you a glimpse into the absurd humour of BEARS IN TREES and highlight the hatred of friends while somehow finding solace in a slice of sunshine, these are wacky, weird and very wonderful. 

Based on and everybody else smiled back, it’s clear the only way for this highly likeable band is up. They capture an audience and champion a message of inclusivity and community spirit through their solid collection of lo-fi indie-pop tunes. When they first started out some years ago now, BEARS IN TREES wrote music from their basement in the hopes that someone would listen. Now, as they approach the release of their debut record, the band has hundreds of thousands of listeners and it’s easy to hear why. 

Rating: 8/10

and everybody else smiled back is set for release on November 19th via Counter Intuitive Records. 

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