Patterns is the long-anticipated debut LP from Portland indie rock outfit Pool Boys. Building off their 2022 EP, Obviously, Doctor, this first full-length album showcases what Pool Boys has come to be known for unexpected chord structures, compelling dynamic shifts, and lush vocal harmonies punctuated by raw emotion.
Amid their signature sound that features bright guitar tones and driving melodies balanced with moments of tension and heaviness, songwriters Emma Rose Browne, Caroline Jackson, and Annie Dillon explore themes around the inherent dissonance of breaking away from ingrained cycles and carving new pathways forward. Browne’s “I Can’t Imagine This Place Will Last” starts the album with a fast-paced, apocalyptic yet hopeful view of climate change, and Jackson’s “Habits” stands out as a catchy yet intricate song affirming that growth is not always linear, giving us the album’s title: “Patterns are hard to break.”
After the three founding members were joined by Monica Metzler on drums in 2020, Pool Boys spent the following years intimately learning each other’s creative voices and honing their collective craft. Though listeners will find many pop-centric hooks throughout the album, Patterns highlights the band’s uncanny ability to weave together complex vocal and instrumental lines organically within this set of diverse yet cohesive tracks.
Patterns will be available on vinyl and all major streaming platforms on November 15, 2024, with a release show at Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon.
