Columbia

Hastily dubbed 2011’s answer to MGMT, Los Angeles trio Foster the People makes psych-infused grooves that are as infectious as they are lyrically complex. On this West Coast outfit’s debut Torches, the combo of handclap percussion and tinny keyboards may draw easy comparison to the aforementioned MGMT, but Foster the People’s breezy, exuberant sonic aesthetic defies easy classification. The effervescent falsetto-laden vocals on the single “Pumped Up Kicks” echo the youthful chanting of innocent playground antics, making the almost undetectable lyrics about a child with homicidal intentions that much more sinister, while the hip swivel-inducing rhythm on “Houdini” is dying for a dance floor. The kooky-cool opener “Call It What You Want” – with heavy piano tinkering, a thumping beat and an anthemic chorus – has all the makings of a perfect summertime theme song.