Rock Kills Kid

Although barely together a year, this young SoCal quartet sound like they've been together a lifetime. Taking their common love of melodic punk rock and '80s new wave pop, they have created a sound that sets them head and shoulders above many of their geographic peers. Lush and gorgeous three-part vocal harmonies and jangly agit-pop make them sound like Sloan and Archers of Loaf jamming on old Beach Boys and Buzzcocks ideas. A most welcome break from the glut of formula pop punk that we tend to associate with the Southern California scene.