IN REVIEW: Sports Team - "Deep Down Happy"

After releasing a plethora of singles and EPs over the course of their first few years, Deep Down Happy marks the official debut LP from UK upstarts Sports Team; that said, that early material helped them develop a small but rabid fan base in their home country, so it feels just a bit unfair to label them as upstarts.

Whatever their status may be, their first full-length has finally arrived; the run-up has been long, with one of the album's re-recorded tracks first released in 2017, so suffice to say anyone turned onto the band early has been waiting a long time for this.

After one listen to Deep Down Happy, I can tell how Sports Team has amassed such a loyal following. Occupying a sonic space somewhere in the neighbourhood of Parquet Courts and Courtney Barnett (hey, this record just happens to be helmed by Burke Reid, who co-produced both of Barnett's LPs!), Sports Team's sound is rough around the edges and fun.

When a band's debut record reminds me of my Album of the Year winners from 2015 and 2018 respectively, that's obviously a good thing, and anything else I say would just be underscored by the spectre of those records, so I'll stop now by just recommending you check it out if you're into fresh indie rock with a sense of humour and some sweet, sweet swagger.

June 12, 2020 • Bright Antenna/Island

Highlights Going Soft • Camel Crew • Fishing

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