Surfer Blood Weird Shapes

Man, you know what's rare these days? Surf rock for the thinking man. And it's a shame, because sometimes you want your feel good summer jams, with a hint of punk and a history of hand-clapping beach parties, to have a little pathos.

Thankfully, there's Surfer Blood, back with their first single in a while (erm, that is, since frontman John Paul Pitts got arrested... awkward), "Weird Shapes." It's got an infectious rhythm and a slightly discordant if catchy intro series of strumming guitar chords, offset by the synthy plink of a keyboard. Their sound harkens back to the indie rock of the early-to-mid-aughts, before everyone had beards, wore plaid, and sang in beautiful, beautiful harmony.

The vocals both add to this pop-rock good time sound and set the track apart: Pitts' somewhat muted, fluid vocals have a little bit of Morrissey in them, and suggestions of violence in the lyrics contrast the upbeat rhythms. "Weird Shapes" isn't reinventing the wheel here, but this simple contrast of sounds and styles makes for a track that's inherently listenable and interesting.

Stay tuned for more -- their album Python is set to be released this summer.