Washington

Washington:

Seapony

PHOTO: ANGEL CEBALLOS

CITY: Seattle
SONG TO DOWNLOAD: "Dreaming"
WEBSITE: seapony.bandcamp.com

WHY THEM: There is something magically hypnotic in Seapony's simplicity — three-chord structures, songs roughly two minutes in length, and the hey-lover-come-for-a-ride vocal ease of Jen Weidl all add up to a glistening lo-fi dream-pop vacation for the soul. Go with Me, Seapony's debut record off Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art, is a twee smile-romp through fuzzy guitars and surf-pop melodies, an innocent daydream record of bright-bulb guitar wash that has no stomach for winter's angry blues. These tracks are bright, sunny, and hopeful, a nostalgia trip for the more pop-side glide of Lush and the playful, almost childlike sweetness of Best Coast. It's a chilled-out vibe perfect for knocking off work and heading to the beach, and the repetition in sound only reinforces the good times cherished within. Close your eyes and drift away.

ALSO CONSIDERED: Craft Spells — Justin Vallesteros's Craft Spells might have a song-of-the-year contender for "After the Moment," but his band was born in Stockton, California, and only relocated to the Northwest like, uh, a few weeks ago.

West Virginia

Virginia