Despite their name, Surfer Blood's music isn't exactly surf music (nor is death metal, which is too bad, since Surfer Blood would have been an awesome death metal name). There are no Beach Boys harmonies or Dick Dale guitar riffs. However, there are plenty of fuzzed-out power chords and lots of lyrics inspired by the waving sea. Most importantly, the record has the laid-back vibe of a day in the sun. The '90s alterna-rock guitars, à la Pavement or Built to Spill, drive the record, but the best moments come when singer John Paul Pitts' vocals rise above the fuzzy haze into a wobbly falsetto ("Catholic Pagans," "Floating Vibes").