HEAR THIS: The Grownup Noise

Beantown’s The Grownup Noise is the sonic equivalent of a group hug: an easygoing attitude and broad world-view couched in cheerful indie pop. The five-piece take a smart approach to everything in their songs, with witty lyrics and arrangements that straddle the chasms between folk simplicity, indie experimentation, and baroque complexity. Despite the vocal similarities to Ben Gibbard, the upbeat rhythms and frequent humor mean that they’re something of the anti-emo. Listen to “Attention” and give them your undivided.