The Morning Benders | 'Big Echo' (Rough Trade)
Shimmering pop and atmospheric guitars are the two seemingly contradictory cornerstones of "Big Echo," the sophomore release from San Francisco quartet Morning Benders. Lead singer Chris Chu is clearly a fan of The Beach Boys and The Shins—no demerits there—but augments the sunny influence his city most likely had on him with a wall of guitars that sounds like Kevin Shields on ecstasy. Most songs fall in the mid-tempo breezy range—though the art-funk riff of "Promises" needs to be sampled by some rapper ASAP—making "Echo" the "Sunday morning" album of the year. —Jason Newman
