I Love Math

The Texas-based band (made up of members of the Apples in Stereo, Old 97’s, the Paper Chase and the Deathray Davies) dole out stripped-down indie pop with a side of sweet, rootsy warmth. Their sophomore release, Getting To The Point Is Beside It, brings to mind some of the stronger work of Oakley Hall. "This is Something I Might Miss” has that rare generational anthem quality ("I’m nostalgic for a place that I’ve never been before”) that will have it scooped up for a telecommunications device commercial in no time flat. "The Shape of the Sum” is a kinetic pop song chock full of handclaps and chord changes and "These Paper Walls” is a distillation of yearning. This generally wistful album is rescued from sentimentality with dashes of humour ("Only Clowns Are Scary”). It may not be an accurate mathematical concept but in the case of I Love Math, sometimes a band can be greater than the sum of their parts.