A Breath of Summer Before Fall

On Correct Behavior, Eternal Summers seems to vacillate between ambient dream pop and bright, noisy post-punk sounds. The two-piece band from Roanoke, Virginia has refined its repertoire since the release of its debut album Silver in 2010, opting for music that’s at once fun and mature, young and developed.

The album kicks off with a slew of noise pop tracks. Guitarist and vocalist Nicole Yun’s precious, smooth soprano soars over thumping bass on “Millions.” Heavy guitars drive “Wonder” and the lo-fi “You Kill,” which belies its abrasive name with a fun, sunny feel. A jangly, frenetic beat powers “I Love You,” pulsing beneath Yun’s energetic staccato vocals and chugging bass. Its light, quirky tone churns into a darker bridge before jumping back.

Yun’s vocals give Eternal Summers its distinctive identity, turning post-punk into dreamy pop. The second half of Correct Behavior, with the exception of the slick ’80s-inspired “Girls in the City” and distorted “Heaven and Hell,” veers into atmospheric, romantic spheres. “It’s Easy” is more retrospective, with an expansive sound and high, ethereal vocals floating over hazy guitars and melodically melancholy synths. “Good as You” slows down, with rich, melodic chords vibrating in mellow sonic waves.

Correct Behavior may be somewhat of an intermediary step, a brief moment when Eternal Summers hang between sounds, like those last weeks of summer before the air starts to smell like fall. But it’s a firm step in the right direction—whatever that direction is in the end.