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· Conor Welsch
There is an easy confidence to Crush. Small Forward do not sound like a band chasing momentum. They sound like a band that already found their rhythm and decided to stay in it. This record carries warmth, patience, and clarity. It feels both lived in and fully alive.
Across twelve tracks, Crush unfolds with care and intent. The opener “Come Around” sets the tone with jangling guitars, tight percussion, and a melody that moves without rushing. “These Days” and “I Only Feel Love When It’s Missing”deepen the emotional pulse, blending indie rock grit with dreamy pop textures.
The title track “Crush” stands as the centerpiece. It balances shimmering guitars with honest lyrics, finding strength in restraint. “Hollywood Con” and “Carry the Pieces” show the band’s talent for layering sound without losing focus. Later songs like “Taking In the View” and “New House” slow the pace, closing the album with quiet reflection instead of noise.
Every song feels intentional. The album’s cohesion makes it an easy and rewarding listen from start to finish.
The performances on Crush feel natural and unforced. Vocals carry warmth and character, guitars favor tone over flash, and the rhythm section keeps everything grounded. Small Forward stand out because they never overplay. The production is clean but open enough to breathe, giving space for emotion and melody to lead.
When “Crush” reaches its midpoint lift, you hear the payoff of that restraint. Nothing is rushed, and that patience gives the record its staying power.
Small Forward’s journey mirrors their sound. The band formed in Los Angeles while its members were still students, writing and recording in small apartments and borrowed rooms. Before releasing their debut album, they put out a cassette EP titled Affections, a lo-fi project that caught attention for its honesty and charm.
Their name came from the basketball position, chosen not for athletic reasons but for the metaphor. A small forward does a bit of everything, switching between roles, adapting to the game. That flexibility defines their approach to music too. Each member writes, produces, and arranges, creating a balance that feels democratic and personal at the same time.
That early do-it-yourself spirit still runs through Crush. You can hear it in the warmth of the recordings, the small imperfections, the intimacy that never fades even when the sound expands.
“Crush” is built for vinyl. The chorus hits clean and open, spreading through the room.
“Taking In the View” has a mid-song shift that feels like the perfect moment to flip the record.
“New House” closes softly, leaving silence that feels earned.
Crush does not try to reinvent indie rock. Instead, it perfects what already works. The record is confident without ego and emotional without excess. Each song feels like a small truth laid bare. It is an album you return to not for surprises, but for its steady sense of place.
Small Forward sound like a band that understands what makes them special and has no reason to force it.
Small Forward have all the right pieces for a long and meaningful career. Their songwriting shows maturity, their production feels honest, and their chemistry is rare. Crush feels like the kind of record people rediscover years later, one that quietly earns its place on the shelf.
If they continue to build from here, they will not just be another indie name. They will be one of the defining bands of their corner of the genre.
Best Spins: “Crush,” “I Only Feel Love When It’s Missing,” “New House”
For Fans Of: The 1975, Bleachers, COIN, The Jungle Giants
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How to: Friend, Love, Freefall – Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Blue Madonna – BØRNS
Pratts & Pain – Royal Otis
Saintmotelevision – Saint Motel
Love Signs – The Jungle Giants