An enjoyable album that sounds awfully familiar‰Û_

After releasing a pair of EPs, songwriting duo Reese Donohue and Christopher Prudhomme have finally issued their first full-length as Painted Palms, entitled Forever. Like the duo‰’s hometown of San Francisco, these songs are warm, colorful, and breezy. Unfortunately, they bear such a distinct resemblance to the musical and vocal stylings of Animal Collective (particularly Panda Bear) that it occasionally becomes distracting. This could have derailed a clear homage such as album opener “Too High,‰” but Donohue and Prudhomme populate this song and others (the combo of “Carousel‰” and “Not Really There‰” is especially fun) with both catchy hooks and bouncy grooves. While at least half of the album‰’s tracks are highly enjoyable and well crafted, a listen to Forever will likely prompt questions as to why you didn‰’t simply just put on Person Pitch or Merriweather Post Pavilion.

RIYL: Panda Bear, Beach Boys, Animal Collective – you get the point
Recommended Tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9, 11