Way Yes is a group out of Columbus, Ohio, who use world beats, pop, and a lot of whimsy in their music (including some Muppet-like vocals on some songs). Their six-track EP Herringbone draws heavily on Afrobeats, so much so that on tracks “Cinnamon” and “Johanna,” I was waiting for Paul Simon to start chiming in. But to the band’s credit, this is an EP full of energy and well-executed layers of dance beats and effects. Glenn Davis, Travis Hall and Dylan Meister show on Herringbone that they can write a great pop song, and thankfully, know that not every song needs a long jam session in the middle (Dave Matthews, I’m talking to you). The breezy, tropical vibe that Way Yes produces shares a lot of similarities with Vampire Weekend, but with an Ohio “edge” (less tribal/preppy and more quirky and rootsy). – Written by DBosket
SIMILAR | Animal Collective, Bear in Heaven, Le Loup, Suckers, Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer