I was totally unfamiliar with Santa Ana quintet Pop Free until I caught the label post about this EP on its day of release. Certainly reminiscent of Fiddlehead, Spring's offerings are perhaps a bit more direct in terms of indie/alternative jangle; and though some of the melodies have the ring of mid-period Title Fight, these compositions never really skirt those pop-punk edges. Whatever threads and connections you'll find, all that really matters are those surging mid-paced tempos and catchier-than-average hooks centered around strong bursts of energy. "Everything" was the instant hit for me, but there's loads of potential in the other tracks, too (most notably "The Dreamer" and "New Year"). I do believe this is one of the year's best releases so far, in fact.
Spring has been referred to as the band's "debut EP," but that's a touch misleading, as they did a demo in 2022 and a full-length last year. I will say, however, that these new songs indicate a huge step up in terms of the production values, with much more clarity and punch, and it really makes a difference in the overall impact. If Pop Free continues to develop the way they have over the past year, I'd definitely expect them to start making more of a mark. I'm crossing my fingers for the future...
This one appears to be digital-only, from Bandcamp or straight from the label. Those who stream, head to Spotify or Apple Music or whatever.
