Dum Dum Girls + Chez Deep + Starred

Los Angeles' Dum Dum Girls are both dark and light, addressing somber topics in language that can startle with its directness. Yet the neo–girl group delivers these grim tidings with a newfound clarity and muscle, giving the music an oddly uplifting energy, as heard on a new EP, End of Daze. It's a colorful, riff-heavy affair that's a strong follow-up to their much-adored Only in Dreams.