I had heard Petty Never Grew was coming out with a new single very soon. Having followed this band from the start, having been to some of their excellent live shows I was quite excited for their new material. Imagine my surprise when I was told that I would get early access and a chance to review their new single Na Bola Golpo before its official release. 

While I normally listen to a song once, or at most twice, before I decide whether it'll be a song on my liked playlist, or at least a song I revisit every now and again, a review calls for a more scientific methodology.

The plan was to listen to the track four times, twice on speakers and the other two times using earphones. After completing my new and *patent pending* 15 minute test, here are the results.

First and foremost, the song sounds way better on earphones than over speakers. I'm not saying that they sound bad on speakers, but I just feel that this song was mixed with the intention of people listening to it over earphones. And that makes a lot of sense, because it has all the elements that make a song great to listen to on commutes – a sweet melody, a great usage of samples, and meaningful lyrics. 

On the point of a sweet melody, I'd say that Petty Never Grew did a great job of using interesting instrument samples to shape melodies that are a treat for the ears and in no way fatiguing to listen to. In some ways, this is a perfect song for the summer.

The song itself opens with a shrill sample of what sounds like a bunch of bells that have been made to sound like a retro alarm clock or ringtone. But just as you start to anticipate which direction the song will head, it switches up to the sweet melody that is played through the song. This initial melody is played on an instrument that has a theremin type of sound.

You're likely to be hit with a wave of childhood nostalgia, at least if you were growing up in the 2000s, as the song has somewhat of a retro vibe in terms of the choice of instrument samples used. 

If you're a fan of Petty Never Grew, and enjoyed The Pink Album or their more recent release Dushshopno, you're very likely to enjoy this particular song. If nothing else, I am sure it's a song that will make its way into my summer playlist, and be played over and over when I'm out on the road. It's also the type of song you could listen to during a rooftop chill with close friends, as you let your minds wander into memories of simpler times and imagining scenarios of what could've been, while also vibing out to the catchy chorus.

The song is due to come out tomorrow, on April 1. I'd recommend anyone who is into indie or bedroom pop to go ahead and give this song a listen as soon as possible, you'll love it. 

Aaqib Hasib will someday finish writing his book. But not today. Write to him at [email protected]