Sheffield Pop-Punk Rockers The Crooked Smiles explore themes of both outward angst and inward critique with “TEARS IN THE PALACE” Album and Video with SODEH Records!
The Crooked Smiles are here with an eclectic mix of pop-punk powerhouse tracks in debut album ‘ Tears in the Palace’. Featuring the single of the same name, as well as ‘The Sound of Your Intonation’ single, the album is an odyssey exploring themes of both outward angst and inward critique over the span of its eleven tracks.
“The project began with its lead single, ‘Tears in the Palace’, as an outlet for processing the breakdown of a long-term relationship, all while being isolated from support networks from the pandemic. From this kernel, the fundamental themes for the following track were rooted.
The subsequent tracks were penned over the following year, and were directly intertwined with the experiences of rebuilding oneself, and in turn trying, failing, and ultimately succeeding in connecting and reconnecting with people once emerging from a pit of self-pity and loathing. It’s as emo as you’ll find anywhere else.
The album also features some reworks of our back catalogue, namely ‘Pins and Needles’, the trio’s debut track (now with feature spot from producer Heartwork), and ‘Leeches’, their newest rendition of 2020 track ‘Leech’ (see what they did there? Clever, we know) – a booming explosion of gritty guitars and roaring drum beats, shrouded in themes of betrayal and confrontation.
Tonally, Tears in the Palace follows in the footsteps of giants as The Crooked Smiles strive to embody the spirit of the likes of Alkaline Trio, The Wonder Years, and of course Blink-182, packing a punch with an anthemic chorus here and a chugging-power-chord-driven-verse there. But that’s not all – The Crooked Smiles aren’t stuck in the past, far from it; more modern influences from the mid-western emo scene bleed through from the likes of Hot Mulligan, Mom Jeans, and Modern Baseball with delicate melodies and sentimental lyricism.” Says Michael Rodber – Vocals/Guitar.
Biography
The Crooked Smiles are a 3-piece pop-punk/emo band from Sheffield, UK. The trio have crafted their tone over 2 EP’s, before releasing their debut album in 2022. Combining the raw garage sounds of the late-90s pop-punk scene with a more melodic and polished sound of Mid-Western Emo, The Crooked Smiles put a unique spin on power chord anthems, fueled by poetic lyricism, break-neck drums, and roaring guitar lines.
Founded in 2019, lead singer and guitarist Michael Rodber met drummer Declan Quick loitering inconspicuously outside the toilets of a local rock club. The two quickly bonded over Declan’s Alkaline Trio shirt, and drunkenly promised each other they’d start a band together, and to their surprise they did! At first, practices were nothing more than an excuse to whale along to early 2000’s pop-punk. Before long, and with the help of a friend of the band jumping in for additional guitars, the two strived to cobble together something resembling a song. After a late night coach trip back from a blink-182 cover band show, the lyrics to their first single, Pins and Needles, was put to paper, before the two hit the studio. Later on while on a University trip to the heart of Edinburgh, Rodber bumps into the future bassist of The Crooked Smiles. Over a couple of beers and a stroke of luck at the hostel bar, Michael and bassist George Allen to struck up a conversation on music, before ideas of grandeur (local pub shows) were floated across the table. When the pair returned to Sheffield, George was introduced to Declan, and The Crooked Smiles as you know them were born.
Since those serendipitous beginnings, the trio have crafted their tone over 2 EP’s, before releasing their debut album, Tears in the Palace, now in 2023. Combining the raw garage sounds of the late-90s pop-punk scene with a more melodic and polished sound of Mid-Western Emo, The Crooked Smiles put a unique spin on power chord anthems, fueled by poetic lyricism, break-neck drums, and roaring guitar lines.
THE CROOKED SMILES ARE:
Michael Rodber – Vocals/Guitar
George Allen – Bass
Declan Quick – Drums
