‘Guppy’ unfolds like a carefully paced emotional arc rather than a loose collection of songs, each track revealing a slightly different shade of Sweet Tooth’s identity while contributing to a cohesive whole. Rooted in alternative rock but unafraid of softness or abrasion, the Beckley, West Virginia band sound fully aware of the weight and possibility of restraint. This is music that doesn’t rush to explain itself; it trusts the listener to sit with feeling, ambiguity, and change.
The album opens with the title track, “Guppy,” and immediately establishes its tone of vulnerability balanced by quiet confidence. There’s a sense of self-awareness in the writing, as if the narrator is watching their own emotions move in real time. Maya Deal’s vocals arrive with an unforced intimacy, sounding less like a declaration and more like a thought spoken aloud before it can be edited. It’s an introduction that doesn’t try to overwhelm, but instead pulls you closer. The band’s strength shows here in their ability to make a song feel light without making it flimsy, every hook has weight, every chorus lands with a quiet confidence rather than bombast.
“Slab Fork” follows with a deeper sense of place and weight. Named after a West Virginia town, the song carries an undercurrent of rootedness, blending personal memory with something broader and more communal. The guitars of Zack Halsey and Josh White feel earthier here, less glossy and more grounded, while the rhythm section of Sam Harbin (bass) and Logan Delp (drums) lock into a steady, patient groove. It’s a track that feels like looking backward without nostalgia, acknowledging where you come from while recognizing how it shapes what comes next.
On “Like a Knife,” Sweet Tooth sharpen their sound. The tension hinted at earlier comes into focus as the song cuts through with brighter guitars and a more urgent emotional delivery. There’s a pronounced sense of confrontation here, not necessarily with another person, but with an internal truth that’s hard to ignore. The band excels at channeling intensity without losing clarity, and this track captures that balance beautifully.
“Flower Bed” offers a moment of reprieve, leaning into softness without becoming weightless. There’s a tender, almost domestic quality to the song, as if it exists in small, shared moments rather than grand statements. The melodies unfold slowly, allowing space for reflection, and Deal’s vocals carry a warmth that feels reassuring without being sentimental. It’s a quiet highlight, one that deepens the album’s emotional range.
“Smile” reintroduces brightness, but with an edge of complexity beneath its accessible exterior. The song plays with the idea of surface-level happiness versus what’s happening underneath, pairing inviting hooks with lyrics that suggest something more complicated. Sweet Tooth’s ability to write songs that feel open while remaining emotionally layered is especially evident here.
The aptly titled “Tension” brings the album’s emotional push and pull into sharp relief. The instrumentation tightens, the rhythms feel more compressed, and the atmosphere grows heavier. There’s a sense of unresolved feeling that runs through the track, as if the song itself is holding its breath. Rather than resolving that unease, Sweet Tooth let it linger, trusting discomfort as a meaningful emotional state.
“Space Between Us” closes the album on a reflective note, stretching outward rather than inward. The song feels expansive, concerned with distance; emotional, physical, or both and how connection persists despite it. The arrangement gradually opens up, giving the impression of release without tying everything into a neat conclusion. It’s an ending that feels honest, acknowledging separation while still holding onto hope.
As a whole, ‘Guppy’ is an emotionally intelligent record that thrives on subtlety and intention. Sweet Tooth understand that impact doesn’t require excess; instead, they focus on careful songwriting, expressive performances, and a clear emotional through-line. The album feels deeply human in its willingness to sit with uncertainty, making it a compelling statement from a band unafraid to be gentle, tense, and sincere all at once.
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