Artist The Expendables

Laid-back, sun-drenched, good-time grooves: It sounds like a music snob’s version of hell. But it’s hard to find anything particularly bash-worthy about The Expendables’ slacker reggae and Sublime-lite ska-punk. The beach-music-by-numbers on the band’s latest album, Prove It, is defined by its inoffensiveness and utter lack of pretension, and perfectly suited for an afternoon trip to the skatepark or a late-night bowl. You’re not supposed to think about it too hard, brah—just let the chill dub textures wash over you while the lackadaisical off-beats give your elbows and knees a reason to swing back and forth.

Updated 11/15/2010