When I saw that Elle Coves’ new EP was titled Secondhand Smoke, I thought to myself “Self, what a weird title;” it isn’t even a song’s name on the EP. After a few listens, I get it, it’s a lyric from her song “Best Years” and sometimes your inner thoughts or exes are just as beneficial as secondhand smoke.
The EP’s six pack of songs really put you through it. The music videos for “What Am I Doing?” and “Pattern” focus on Elle’s emotional state but the remaining songs are about relationship trauma. When an ex comes sniffing around after hearing that you might be happy with someone new (“Rumours”), purging your life of all the shit someone left behind (“Evidence”) and “Better Man Than You” and “Best Years” are about needing to upgrade after all the wasted time you’ve spent in a toxic relationship.
Elle rocks out more on Secondhand Smoke than previous releases, but her pop roots are still there. In my gay opinion, each song goes off in it’s own direction but meet up at the same place, a light and enjoyable EP with a heavy theme.
