Whitney, Lucky Cloud

From the ashes of indie rock project Smith Westerns emerged Whitney, where drummer Julien Ehrlich and guitarist Max Kakacek retained the tenderness of their former band while infusing it with folk influences. Now, 11 years on, Whitney’s commitment to their warm, sun-drenched songwriting shows itself across the group’s five-album discography. Ehrlich’s always-comforting falsetto lends itself well to the often soulful sound found in songs like “Small Talk,” the title track to their most recent album. Live, the sixpiece projects a full and expansive output, complemented by trumpet from JJ Kirkpatrick. – Joseph Gonzalez