Just to confirm, no, you have not stumbled upon a NASCAR fan site.  Yes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is perhaps one of the silliest choices for a band’s name and yes, Joshua Epstein and Daniel Zott don racing jumpsuits when they perform live.  However, shtick aside, this duo produce some mighty fine Indie Pop.

These Detroit natives made their entrance as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. only last July with the Horse Power EP.  The debut is made up of songs that are tender and endearing examples of electro-pop.  Even the cover of the Beach Boys classic, “God Only Knows” carries a soft touch while the production shimmers and shines behind the familiar lyrics.

After almost a year of waiting, the full-length album It’s A Corporate World was released earlier this month.  Perfect for summer, it is like diving into a cool swimming pool on a hot day.  The soft voices of Epstein and Zott float over the music as the tinkling of keyboards and a fuzzy guitar create a rich production in the space underneath.  They aren’t the hookiest pop tunes you’ll hear, but that simply adds to the laid back appeal of this gritty pop with sharp electronic edges.

Pick up the music of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. to celebrate the start of summer and provide a soundtrack for all the warm, carefree nights to come.

If you like: Death Cab for Cutie, Switchfoot, Sufjan Stevens, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Check out: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (start with the Horse Power EP and graduate to It’s a Corporate World)
Feeling brave: Hot Chip, Devendra Banhart, Islands, James Yuill

AI level: Intermediate