The Smiles Release Free Christmas EP "Mary, Christmas Baby"

California indie surf pop/garage rock band The Smiles have just released a free Christmas EP entitled Mary, Christmas Baby. The 6-song collection features 3 Christmas classics placed among entertaining skits -- probably the closest the band will ever come to making a rap album (get it? I hope so). So, if you ever wanted to hear "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Feliz Navidad" in the context of surf, now's your chance. Stream/download the whole EP after the hop.

The Smiles on Mary, Christmas Baby:

We recorded these two/three/six songs while trying to take some finals, so it was a little hectic but it is finally ready!

The album cover is a picture of Will as a kid. What a smile.

LISTEN: The Very First Mixtape Muse Podcast

Below, you can check out the very first Mixtape Muse podcast. Feel free to download it and share it with your friends. Background info, or a preface, for this podcast can be found at the start of the podcast, so I won't waste your time by typing a bunch of words here. In regards to my production and editing, it's not the best -- hell, you can ever hear a motorcycle/car go by in the distance if you listen closely -- but it's raw and honest. If you dig it, share it!

LISTEN: Hermosa EP from The Smiles

Rawkblog got it right when they said this about LA's The Smiles:

"Jangly, sweet and high-energy in a way that recalls a beach-ready, less Africa/boat shoe-obsessed Vampire Weekend..."

I'd say that's about right. The Smiles have found their way into the "happy pop" niche. Quinn spoke a while back about knowing songs are good when they can still be pared down and sound great when acoustic. YouTube shows us that these (presumably) college boys from CA have that aspect of songwriting figured out...although the studio certainly hasn't hurt their work. 

So they've got an EP out and as far as I'm concerned it's a great way to round out summer, whether you're driving in the car singing loud with the windows down or lying in the sun with your headphones on, soaking up the sun. The Smiles are fans of some tight harmonies and easy-going surfy guitar. They share that same Africana kind of echo with Vampire Weekend, but again, expect the lyrical content to be a bit more relaxed and cute.

Via Bandcamp (which is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to post music here and to stream it) you can enjoy the full EP and/or download it for an easy $4.50.

Happy listening, y'all.