Surfer Blood- "Astro Coast"

Key tracks: "Swim," "Take It Easy"

9.2

When it comes to music, there's really not much need to over-think things. Some musicians feel like they need to innovate with each release, and that is needed to a point.

And less and less bands are seeing the merits to remaining simple and straightforward with their approach.

Yet here comes Surfer Blood, a band that has built a modern marvel on nothing more than Cheap Trick guitar hooks and surf-rock inclinations.

Its so simple, yet brilliant, and "Astro Coast" will only become more beloved as the year goes on.

The album begins with the dreamy "Floating Vibes" recalling The Shins' harmonies, making a splash doing so. The darting "Twin Peaks" and subtle "Harmonix" do much the same.

But where Surfer Blood really shines are in glimmering, stadium-gutting anthems like "Swim," "Neighbour Riffs" and "Take It Easy."

"Swim" soars with its 'Weezer's "Blue Album' guitar riff busting out of the sides of your headphones. It's a sugary hammer blast to your eardrums that will have you hollering along with every note and strumming air-chords viciously.

The true gem is "Take It Easy." Here's the past, present and future. That precious simplicity meets a little something brewing below the surface. That chorus is heart-tugging, the verses head-banging and the full product, truly amazing.

"Astro Coast" will become a benchmark in melding the new and old, and though the album is little known now, I promise it will take a bite at you in no time.

Toro Y Moi- "Causers Of This"

Key tracks: "Minors," "Blessa"

8.3

Toro Y Moi seem poised for 2010 domination.

Remember how Passion Pit and Animal Collective became everyone's new favorite bands in 2009? Well, Toro Y Moi have somehow smashed those sounds together and sent the result strutting down the runway enveloped in flashing lights and shrouded in mind-bending outfits.

You can see Toro Y Moi stitching together their sound in "Causers Of This," and it certainly is a promising stylist if its debut is this well put together.

There are certainly moments where things are a bit too avant-garde, but the rest of the album more than makes up for a misstep or two.

"Blessa" has a wonderful, oceanic feel before "Minors" blasts off into the starry night.

"Imprint After" patches tribal prints with vintage velvet smooth and "Lissoms" mixes a hovering stride with thumping bumps.

Constantly fighting elements make for the most eclectic, and exciting, sound that has arisen this year. "Causers Of This" is both natural completely synthetic, like the best fashion should always be.

Four Tet- "There Is Love In You"

Key tracks: "Love Cry," "Circling"

8.1

Four Tet definitely fell into that "Pitchfork loves the album, but what the hell is this?" category for me. I took a few listens and decided to wait for it to fall into the depths of my cavernous iTunes library.

But then, on pure accident, it would pop up when putting my headphones in, preparing for my trek back through the ice and snow after work.

It clicked.

Maybe "There Is Love In You" requires the perfect atmosphere to enjoy it. Walking around the cold, feeling like I was the only person around for miles, the album works.

But listening to it at home again I came back to that moment. Do you know that feeling, the one where you sit in perfect stillness, completely alone, but feel the rapid rush of people and cars buzzing in the distance? Well, I now know "There Is Love In You" is the soundtrack to that moment.

It's an ominous drone, pulsating with eerie synths but grounded with luscious strings and pelting key showers. It's frightening and beautiful.

"There Is Love In You" is not the album you listen to every day, nor the one you blare from your car stereo.

It's the one you reach for when you want to grasp that perfect moment, made all the better when you aren't expecting it.