Summer of Love

Good things come in small packages, and Grouplove’s self–titled EP is no exception. A playful blend of acoustic guitars, “ooh”s and “yeaaaah”s, and one fantastic tambourine, Grouplove sounds like a summer on repeat: bright and sunny.

The LA–based band manages to bottle the sweet California sunshine in just six songs. The slight twang in lead singer Christian Zucconi’s vocals shines through in the opener “Colours” as well as “Gold Coast”. His voice is reminiscent of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, at times raw and always dripping with passion. The catchy harmony and jangly tambourine in “Don’t Say Oh Well” is perfectly on–point, made better only by the hand–clapping throughout the song.

The real gem of the EP though, is “Naked Kids” which turns the events of an ordinary summer day into an anthem. The lyrics are unpretentious and honest: “Crossing sandy dunes, hot day, mid–June/Naked kids running wild and free/Summertime fun, relax and stay young/You could be home with Oprah Winfrey.” Like the rest of the EP, this summertime anthem paints a picture of best–friendship and how it feels to live the dream, simply and honestly.

4/5 stars

Grouplove
Grouplove — EP
Sounds like: The perfect addition to your summer playlist
Good for: Everyone tired of lamestream music
99–cent download: “Colours”