The sound of Summer Hours aptly fits the name of the band. Alone Together floats out of the speakers with sunny chords, bouncy vocals, and earnest lyrics. Rachel Dannefer’s vocals are a cross between Metric’s Emily Haines and The Breeders’ Kim Deal, while the whole sound — from the bass to the drums — takes the upbeat tempos of The Cardigans and the overall vibe of Best Coast to make a perfectly balanced indie-pop record.

“California” is a near-perfect track with stunning lyrics and gorgeous vocals. But the best track is “Alone, Alone, Alone Together,” which reaches a point of sonic bliss with slightly heavier instruments backing the same perfectly feminine (but not “girly”) vocals that permeate the whole album. The lyrics throughout Alone Together read like a diary of modern life with a sense of earnest hopefulness throughout and never a despondent note. This album is brilliant.

(Deep Elm Records, 210 N. Church St. Suite 2502, Charlotte, NC 28202)