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If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Surfer Blood, an indie-rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, heeds this oft-repeated notion on their first full-length album titled Astro Coast.

The album is built from the same chord progressions surfers, nerds and punks have used for decades. Resemblances to Weezer, Pavement and other ’90s alt-rock bands can’t be ignored, but–in the end–Astro Coast has enough personality to set it apart from its predecessors.

The album kicks off with a pop anthem titled “Floating Vibes.”  A quick-paced “We Will Rock You”-esque drumbeat starts the song, with backing melodies provided by a fuzzy guitar striking two chords.  Soon after the short stadium-rock intro, a backbone bass line kicks in and carries listeners onto a wave of pop glory.

As the bass rings out, singer John Paul Pitts chimes in, “When you told me you were leaving / I wasn’t thirsty for revenge / No, I wasn’t disappointed much at all / Cause you’ll be back again.”  Soon after, the verse’s melodies are highlighted with a guitar solo, practically a prerequisite in pop-rock. “Floating Vibes” has harmonized vocals, builds-up just before the bridge and has well-balanced instrument sections; in essence, it’s a classic pop song.

The final song on Astro Coast is another standout track; “Catholic Pagans” is a New Age ode to losers that dates and outshines Weezer’s “El Scorcho”. “Never could be still for long / And I could never hold a job / Coupled with a weakness for cocaine and liquor / Not much a candidate for love,” sings Pitt, over a glossy guitar.

Surfer Blood occasionally sounds like a B-rated Vampire Weekend, but–because they thrash more often, and add more reverb–Surfer Blood is, in many ways, far better than the reigning champion of New York City hipsters. Surfer Blood is guitar-oriented, accessible, clean and it’s easy to sing along to–just about everything you could ask for from a pop-rock album.

From beginning to end, Astro Coast is a fun album to listen to.

Will Surfer Blood be the next band to shake up the world?  Probably not. But, while the band stays confined its listener-friendly box, they are doing something that most indie bands are too “hip” to do–please the ears of the masses by following age-old chord progressions.

I’m tired for searching for the next big thing, so–for now–this nostalgic sound will do just fine.

via theburningear.com