Foster The People

The route Foster The People took to buzz-band notoriety isn’t a novel one: blog buzz (the Hype Machine, namely) + festival hype (South By Southwest) + catchy single (“Pumped Up Kicks”) played incessantly on mainstream radio=flavor-of-the-month “alternative” act. That’s not to say it’s an easy one; the Los Angeles-based indie poppers occupy a spot envied by thousands of other likeminded groups. Foster The People’s style—one that combines MGMT’s psych-tinges with Peter Bjorn And John’s sparse poppiness—is one readymade for crossover success. It’s assembly-line audio candy filtered through an indie lens. The group’s debut LP, Torches, was released in 2011. Though touring through part of 2012, the band intends to get to work on its anticipated follow-up.

Updated 06/06/2012