Meteor Coming hot of the heels of their last EP, Theory, that was released last May, Practice rounds out the approach that TopHouse were going for in their vision for their music. While Theory was filled a sense of optimism, Practice is a bit more grounded in the places around us and it contemplates our very existence in this crazy world. “We didn’t start out writing these songs with a two-part set of EPs in mind,” says lead vocalist Joe Larson. “But when they were written and we were looking at how to arrange them on an album, the clear delineation of themes became pretty apparent. The idealistic, hopeful worldview that we can all strive for in Theory, up against the hard reality that life doesn’t always work out the way we want in Practice.” With a indie folk sound that fits somewhere in the realm of early-Mumford & Sons, paired with the picturesque singer-songwriter vibes of Noah Kahan, all with polished musicianship like The Lumineers, TopHouse remain on top of their game here.
The EP opens with the lush instrumentation of “Meteor” before lead vocalist Joe Larson cuts through the mix and adds his voice to the backing instruments that feels like a warm hug from a long-lost friend. As the track accelerates, the band adds in some piano-laced chords, banjo and electric guitar to fully round out the sound they were going for. The song is well-constructed, and makes for a memorable opening statement on Practice. “I Don’t Wanna Move On” is a somber reminder of the fragility of romantic relationships, especially when they come to a breaking point and one person is left longing for more. The instrumental breakdown after the first chorus feels like classic Mumford & Sons, and yet TopHouse command the track with a rich sense of pride in their approach to their music.
”Waste” follows in the sequencing and brings the pace down a bit to let the lyrics sink into the listeners’ headspace with rich textures brought forth. The song is largely based on living with the past mistakes that make all of us human, and they take each of these moments in stride and convey a calming presence. “Run” opens the back-half of the EP with a foot-stomping swagger to it that demands the audience participate in clapping along to the beat. The track really has a cool vibe to it, and TopHouse remain at their most captivating on songs like this.
”Better Than This” includes rich lyrical imagery as vocalist Larson sets the scene, while backing vocalist Jesse Davis croons alongside Larson in beautiful harmony. The song feels like it would be a perfect fit for shows like Yellowstone and Landman, as it fits the vibe of those Southern-type TV shows. Everything comes to a nice closing spot on “Falling,” a song about moving on from a past relationship to finding new love as Larson admits, “Ooh, I’m falling in love again…” The song is filled with great spots of folk magic, while the band makes their chemistry felt far and wide on this collection of songs that breathe new life into the indie folk rock genre. Practice may hint that the band is just getting their footing, while the music itself shows that TopHouse have clearly arrived.