Summer may have officially ended more than two weeks ago, but anyone who has ever lived in the Midwest understands that seasons know no Gregorian calendrical bounds. With October blizzards as likely as March t-shirt weather, those from the region are equally prepared for 80 degree autumn days and shoveling snow on April Fools. Cayucas? One listen to any of their records and it's clear that for the Yudin brothers, summer is eternal, both in state of mind and their Southern California home.

Cayucas' fourth album, Blue Summer, is a succinct 27 minutes of pop rock with both words of its title never far from mind. Arguably the band's most consistent top-to-bottom release, it's certainly their most fully laid-back. Blue Summer is not so much a revelation or a reinvention, but rather a fine-tuning of the breezy surf blend that made their previous three LPs so enjoyable. Why take 40 minutes to achieve what can be done in under 30? Then you've got more time to ride the waves. Or shovel.