After last year’s strong debut, Texas duo Juli Keller and Cody Dosier (aka Falcon Bitch & Shmoofy) return with their sophomore LP, EELS – and are joined by Nicole Roman-Johnston. The record is highly enjoyable, largely thanks to the band’s fearless experimentation with different sounds and vibes while still making the whole album feel like a cohesive collection of timeless pop songs.
I’d categorize this as garage pop, but it’s a delight for fans of surf, psych, and sunshine pop too. Plus, if you’re into boy-girl harmonies, EELS delivers some of the finest and sweetest in recent memory. Tracks like Blanket of My Bone and Big Bovine are standout examples. But there is much more to like. Nightvision starts with a dreamy, choir-like 50-second intro before exploding into an indie pop banger. Then there’s Rock’n’Roll Hurts, which is so catchy it’ll make you laugh and feel a little melancholic at the same time, seamlessly transitioning into the indie-punk hit Love Machine. On EELS, a fresh, exciting tune is always waiting just around the corner, ready to surprise you.
LP and CD out now on Bayonet Records.