ATP

Perhaps Sleepy Sun wasn’t quite meant for cosmic transcendence. With Spine Hits, the Santa Cruz, Calif. band’s third full-length, the band seem less interested in head-trips, more fascinated with howling at the lightning-streaked heavens (as dudes will do) and – in many ways – are a tauter unit than ever. One reason for the change is the departure of co-lead singer Rachel Fannan, whose vocals gave the band a much-appreciated female voice within the increasingly macho and shred-heavy vibes of the psychedelic rock world. But, mostly, the band’s songs seem crisper: more carefully arranged hooks ( “V.O.G.” ), more stacked harmonies ( “Boat Trip” ) and – probably – better written. For headbanging hippies with a few Alice in Chains albums in their iTunes, Spine Hits just might be manna, catnip and the bee’s knees all rolled into one honking spliff.