A Beautiful Roar

Call it shoegaze, call it indie pop, call it ambient rock... whatever. The simple fact is that the lush sounds emanating from As Tall as Lions' self-titled sophomore album are as calming as watching a Joy of Painting video (Bob Ross, RIP). What makes it work is the band's ability to go all the way, hitting the high notes many bands avoid for fear of sounding girly. Daniel Nigro's wispy, laid-back vocals fall somewhere between Coldplay's Chris Martin and Gorillaz-era Damon Albarn (which could also mean "Sunny Afternoon"-era Kinks, but don't expect the kids to know that). Nigro's big Beatles-styled choruses aren't afraid to hammer home a simple point, most notably in the track "Love Love Love (Love Love)." Now, about those missing commas...

As Tall as Lions performs Sunday, September 10, at Ray's Downtown, 519 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Admission costs $10. Call 561-835-1577.