Tiny Little Houses’ ‘Car Crash’-ing Hit You Wouldn’t Think You Could Relate To

The latest tune by Tiny Little Houses, ‘Car Crash’, combines the perfect ratio of lo-fi grunge rock and cosy existential dread, which we can all relate to at one point or another.

I first discovered these boys on an indie Spotify radio selection, with ‘Milo Tin’, the perfect song for a midday summer walk in an unknown suburbia. Featuring a buzzy guitar riff, ‘Milo Tin’ documents a small-town boy losing his girlfriend to travel and foreign men. It was their first release, and they’ve been delivering tunes ever since.

I will level with everyone; I love Tiny Little Houses. Love. L-O-V-E.

Equal parts lofi folk and garage rock, complemented by existential lyrics, appealing perfectly to the teenage angst and apathetic tensions of the not-quite-adult; it’s a winning combination, and one that is forefronted in ‘Car Crash’.

I don’t hate myself, but I can see I may be easy to loathe

Caleb’s (the band’s lead singer) droning voice and self-depreciation interjects a raspy rhythm guitar. The chorus sneaks up on us unexpectedly, signified by an earthy trill.

I want to crash into a car

It’s an intrusive thought we’ve all had, when our logical mind seems to give way, if only for a split-second, to a strong flight urge. Some high-pitched, whiny chords echo this anxiety.

I don’t rate myself, but I’ve deceived you all to think I’m a pro

In the music video, the boys bob their heads and tap their feet as Caleb details his slight imposter syndrome. Admittedly, it’s these kinds of self-aware platitudes that have established Tiny Little Houses as the kings of unofficial ‘sad boi’ anthems. Next time you feel like wallowing in self-pity, there are several slowed and reverb remixes on YouTube; my personal go-to is ‘Drag Me’, but ‘You Tore Out My Heart’ is a fan favourite.

I’m the traffic that I can’t get past

I felt that. Some clear bright melody undercuts the desperate lyrics. The resignation is clear in Caleb’s voice as the bridge reaches its climax;

My dentist says I grind my teeth / I sometimes cry myself to sleep.

He punches each word out. As is common for the boys, an angsty teen boy “twilight” cliche forms the punchline of the song. In the music video, Caleb is picked up by a giant whimsical puppeteer, and dropped in a blanch doll house. The clip is accurately described as a  “fever dream of being stuck in a demented play school set”.

The song fills out and fades to finish, as Caleb layers his anxious voice over some perfectly fuzzy chords.

In terms of Tiny Little Houses releases, it doesn’t make me want to cry as much as its predecessor ‘Richard Cory’. The mood is more of a self-aware, quiet desperation. It’s a genuine ‘whatever rock’ bop and definitely one for the feels.