Given the pastel-colored, Chutes Too Narrow-inspired cover art on their debut EP, Sing Song, it seems Los Angeles band the Little Ones are the newest members of that whole lighthearted, cute-name-equals-cuter-pop scene that's been sweeping up indie bands as of late. It's a move that guarantees the band good company, seeing as how they join such other recent additions as (the-artists-formerly-known-as-Unicorns) Islands and the Ultragrrrl-approved Spinto Band, not to mention veterans—and totally harmless-band kingpins—the Shins.
From the two-part harmony “whooooa-ohs” and bells on (appropriately) “Let Them Ring the Bells” to the enthusiastic group hand-clapping session on “Lovers Who Uncover”—not to mention those la-la-la-las on “Cha Cha Cha”—the Little Ones are an easy fit alongside the trillions of other cheerful pop bands who have crept onto the scene. But really, the band probably has more in common with Pavement and Built to Spill than Clap Your Hands Say Totally Overrated. Sure, the Little Ones definitely have room to grow, but Sing Song indicates potential for further maturation and—maybe, just maybe—an opportunity to leave their own signature on an exhausted sound.
To be honest, though, I'm just a sucker for hand-clapping in songs. Gets me every time.
The Little Ones with Great Northern and Drew Grow at the Prospector, 2400 E. Seventh St., Long Beach, (562) 438-3839; www.prospectorlongbeach.com. Tues., 10 p.m. $3. 21+.
