Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham relocated from Florida to Brooklyn, adding two additional players to the fold, but they haven’t left the beach behind. What makes their Summertime! work is the breezy melancholy that flows endlessly, even through the songs you’d expect to be sunny (a la “Let’s Go Surfing”). The Beach Boys had a knack for that kind of thing too, but this is a very different monster. For one thing, the Drums seemingly know how to surf. For another, Pierce sings like a new wave king and the guys were inspired by post-punk Glaswegian Factory/Sarah Records crew the Wake’s 1987 pop tune “Pale Spectre” when forming the band. On their MySpace they list the Smiths, the Legends, the Shangri-Las, the Tough Alliance, the Embassy, Orange Juice, and Joy Division as influences. Also, you might feel like standing on a beach with the Cure after listening to the immediately infectious “I Felt Stupid.”
Summer’s over, but in case you don’t have this already, there’s always next year:
And the accompanying video:
“Summertime! is out via TwentySeven. “I Felt Stupid” isn’t on it. Cue the hype machine.
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Billy Ocean had that breezy,melancholy quality too…”Get Out of My Dreams and Into My Car”etc…the mysterious magic of good power pop….
can’t believe elkland are getting a second chance. sounds like cheap trick playing new order. MEH
These guys are total douche bags, especially the singer. Remember when Pierce was the lead singer of the major label flop Elkland? No? Exactly!!
Here’s their (horrible) “hit single” to refresh you memory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U251tbM3gYk
It’s almost as if Pierce has perfected the art of starting a band that’s derivative of the genre that’s “hot” at the moment and banking on it in an utterly insignificant way.
The pitchfork fueled fads “Glo-fi” and “Surfer glaze”, or fucking whatever, are sure staying their welcome.
don’t blame pitchfork. these types of bands have been getting press from all sorts of sources as of late. and personally, i dig the sound, so i don’t really see why that’s a problem.
Well, one can assume from this that at least OK Go! have found the opening band for their next tour.
Why the hate? This is fun.
I was quite excited about these guys after hearing ‘Let’s Go Surfing’. So much so that I actually bought a promo copy of their ‘Summertime!’ EP, which hasn’t yet been released here in the UK. It really didn’t do anything for me unfortunately. Though I’m impressed with the way that they meld surf-pop and new wave, because it doesn’t sound at all forced.
Um that Elkland song is actually pretty good. Really good guitar playing. Is that the same guitar player? And I really like the Drums too.
Joy Division influence? Ian Curtis would kill himself all over again if he heard this garbage. Listening to this makes me feel like eating too much cotton candy on an empty stomach, which is sort of the way it sounds too. Eccch.
I’ve seen this band live and ‘forced’ is the very word to describe their show. back up singers?? c’mon! and I heard that the lead singer is a total diva. gross.
If you’re going to rip off new wave do it right. not all fake and contrived.
and for the record: no, they don’t surf. ha.
good thing they moved to Brooklyn, that makes their music cooler.
yuk
trying to sound like Brian Wilson/the Beach Boys is soooo ’07. Trying to sound like Joy Division is soooo ’0futile.
I dunno, these two songs are apparently catchy as hell. You guys should quit being such dickheads.
Yay, street team…. nice comment section farming!
Ha! not signing to comment but +1 for you.
the drums-i felt stupid is one of the best songs ive heard in a while!!!!