Nostalgic for the indie-sleaze-grown psychedelic pop sound of the 2010s, pop duo Ray Bull bring the sincere songwriting, playful Auto-Tune, and beachy harmonies into the present. The New York-based pair have an ear for identifying overlapping aesthetic inspiration, as evidenced by their viral TikTok series “Songs That Are the Same,” which draws on melodic similarities to create mind-melding mash-ups. Their second album, Please Stop Laughing, expands on the musical legacies of the Strokes and Flaming Lips to create an evocative medley nonetheless rooted in a comedic, genre-bending tone distinctly of the moment. – Caroline Drew
