The release of LVL UP’s sophomore LP “Hoodwink’d” is imminent, and they’ve just heightened the anticipation considerably with the release of “Ski Vacation.”
It’s jangly, propulsive blast of brightly melancholic guitar-pop that reminds me of Beat Happening covering a Go Betweens song. The way those chiming guitar leads dance with the octave-spanning boy-girl vocals is seriously so wonderful, LVL UP’s new full-length, Hoodwink’d, make sure that you do — it’s one of my favorite albums of the year, a perfect combination of sparkling production and intricately wound slacker rock. “Big Snow” would slot in nicely on that album, but it shows up on an awesome split with Krill, Ovlov, and Radiator Hospital instead. It’s another winner from the New York quartet, deftly balancing existential crises with winking moments of levity
The Fat Angel Sings 