The Smile has been on a roll this year, releasing several singles all leading up to their much anticipated third studio album, Cutouts. Released on October 7 of this year, Cutouts is so far the most accessible album in The Smiles discography. This record is sometimes for dancing, and sometimes for getting into a cab and telling the driver “take me anywhere but here,” but that’s for you to decide.
My standout tracks are “Instant Psalm,” “Eyes & Mouth,” and “No Words.” “Instant Psalm” continues the laid back vibe we are welcomed with in the first track “Foreign Spies.” It feels very comfortable with the repetitive bass and sly squeaking of acoustic guitar chords, all in combination with cinematic strings that come and go with the flow of the song. This was automatically a favorite of mine off the album. In “Eyes & Mouth,” we get groovy. The song has a very jazzy feel to it. Jazzy piano, jazzy drums, and a very interesting guitar part over it all. There is a lot of adding and taking away of parts in this song, and in a lot of other songs by The Smile. It keeps the listener entertained and invested. “No Words”–now this song is quite delicious. We are drawn into the song with rhythmic synth, then fall into the guitar, drums and eventually, bass. It’s a very satisfying introduction that fails to disappoint through the song’s entirety.
There is a visual emphasis placed on this album that we didn’t see from other releases. The band’s Instagram boasts a variety of very interesting visual pieces that correlate to different tracks off the record. It’s definitely worth checking out as it adds to the overall experience that the album gives to the listener. I highly recommend this album, and if you end up enjoying it, the rest of The Smile’s discography is also worth giving a listen to.
