Magic Kids + Bosco Delrey + Big Troubles

At a time when many indie-rock artists are mining themes of nostalgia, family, place and self, few bands seem more indebted to their hometown traditions than Memphis’s Magic Kids. Born in one of America’s most diverse musical melting pots—a city that can claim to a sizable impact on rap, rockabilly, blues and rock—the group creates pleasantly breezy odes to adolescent strife that suggest Elvis-tinged love letters to the Beach Boys. On its debut LP, Memphis (True Panther Sounds), the band doles out its vibrant pop in upbeat but lovelorn sonic snippets, with production worthy of Phil Spector thanks to Magic Kids’ principal arranger, Will McElroy.