Los Angeles rising pop darlings Winnetka Bowling League have been making waves for a minute, making slow but steady progress with a trickle of singles since 2018; now, their shining full-length debut, Sha La La, is out today (May 31) via Local Weather.
The album features a number of the aforementioned earlier singles, like the title track, “America In Your 20’s,” and “Handsome,” all of which dropped earlier this year. But this is hardly a victory lap or greatest hits for the budding band — the new tracks featured on the album stand toe-to-toe with established fan favorite singles (see standouts “Noone’s Ever Kissed You” and album closer “Happy Adjacent”).
There’s an undeniable sonic cohesion throughout, thanks in part to Winnetka Bowling League keeping close to their core sound and straying only for refreshing variation on the theme. The indie pop sensibilities of the album, from the strummy guitar lines and recurring strings to the shimmery synth and steady percussion beat, feel like a sunny memory of the summers of yesteryear — perfect for early June lazing.
The nostalgia baked into the album makes sense, considering lead vocalist Matthew Koma drew on memories of and vignettes from his past for the album.
“What I grew up valuing were these poets and the storytellers,” Koma says. “That’s what I was trying to channel with this project. I didn’t want to consider anyone else’s experience as much as I just wanted to tell the stories I wanted to tell…whether they’re universal or weird, esoteric experiences that only make sense to me.”
This summer, Winnetka Bowling League are taking Sha La La on the road, including a date right here in Cambridge on July 21 at Sonia with support from Akira Galaxy and Darryl Rahn. Get in best Pete Weber form ahead of the show with the record.