I have a soft spot for poppy indie punk – a mix of energetic indie rock and ’90s pop punk. Portland quartet Lazy Sunday know exactly where to hit me with their debut LP Another Summer. The eleven songs on the LP are concise, melancholic, and often played with a contagious energy. Everything sounds fresh and crisp, and the fuzzy guitars, tight but loose drumming, and sweet (often dual) vocals complement each other nicely.
Long Con, Flutter, and Differentiation are some of my favorite songs on Another Summer. Peaches is another, and its “I’m not bitter, just a bit sad” is just one example of how Lazy Sunday can build a great tune over a simple line. It is easy to see why Salinas records picked up this band, as DNA tests might uncover them as younger siblings of fellow Salinas bands Radiator Hospital, Joyride!.
The super likeable Another Summer is out now on LP.