Jukebox The Ghost

Whimsical melodies, over-earnest lyrics, and catchy vocal hooks are the tried-and-true staples of piano-driven indie-pop, but the members of Jukebox The Ghost are obviously even less concerned with wearing their influences on their sleeves than they are their hearts. On the band’s sophomore album, Everything Under The Sun, frontman Ben Thornewill continues to combine Ben Folds’ vocal delivery with Travis Morrison’s lyrical witticism; meanwhile, he and his bandmates find perpetually summery environs in which to couch those attributes—including (gasp) the piano-free new-wave jitter of “Half Crazy.” Everything Under The Sun’s multiple earworms frequently take the quirkiest path to the brain’s pleasure centers, proving that Jukebox The Ghost cares just as little about appearing geeky.

Updated 07/06/2012