Toronto indie rock trio BBQ Pope come barreling back whilst reconciling the poetry and futility of loss and love in their newest single, "Pool Hall," the heartbeating centerpiece of their long-awaited sophomore album UNFURL. It's a song that covers a lot of ground, spiritually, with Cohen guiding us through the tangles of grief's double helix, which contains both pain in absence and warmth in memory. The death of a close friend inspired the song, as the band's members retrace familiar Toronto haunts, memories become a heartbeat of reflection, both personal and universally understood.
Frontman Millar nails the emotional core of the song. The reason grief is so painful is that you loved someone so much that, eventually, you learn to be thankful for those memories. This duality is echoed in the track's evolving sound. Though early demos were more restrained, producer Dylan Frankland pushed the band to flesh out the song, which became a propulsive, hook-laden indie rock track. The result is a vibrant, emotive soundscape, thrilling guitars, timeless melodies, and Millar's vocals pushed to their softest and powerful.
"Pool Hall" is equal parts heavy topic and pop sensibility, making personal mourning communal relief. The song is like standing in a bar you know well, but the sound of laughter and talk remains from days past, as if pushed by an assured melody that wants hope for itself alongside the heartache. It's a song that moves you to feel grief not as a solitary weight but as an adhesive force, sewing memory, gratitude, and resilience between nameless people.
What UNFURL and BBQ Pope demonstrate is that they're back with an added sense of maturity and introspection, but the same old DIY spirit that first got people reflecting on their hooks. If the album is a map of the human heart trying to find its way through loss, "Pool Hall" is its throbbing, unforgettable center, a song that stays with you long after the last chord rings out.