Kevin Bronson on June 21st, 2010

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At first blush, the Smiles confirmed my worst fears: Vampire Weekend is contagious. But the L.A.-based quartet composed of four guys who met at USC aren’t quite the pop sophisticates of the East Coasters – the strain of indie on the Smiles’ debut EP falls has more in common with the bouncy, winsome pop of local quartet Princeton. The Smiles’ EP, released in May, is called “Hermosa,” after the beach town where it was recorded, and band members Will Sturgeon, John McGrath, Brendan Kirlin and Mark Edwards financed it with a Kickstarter campaign. They whimsically call it “tropical grunge,” and most of it smells of California music made by people who aren’t from California – i.e., “Sun,” “Swimming” and the well-worn title “California Girls.” But if you’re downing some colorful drink west of the 405 in the bright sunshine, you could do worse for summertime music.

||| Download: “Cala Cola”