The Cool Kids

When Fish Ride Bicycles may pay homage to Chicago summers, but this duo rarely break a sweat, rhyming in dulcet tones about designer sneaks and tricked-out GMCs. Chuck Inglish (who also produces) and Mikey Rocks move beyond the percussive bass minimalism of 2008's The Bake Sale, employing Travis Barker's live drums on "Sour Apples" and hard synth lines on "Gas Station," featuring Bun B. Still, an innate casualness is their defining characteristic: "This is what should be playing in them jeeps / Swimsuit girls at the pool, beach," raps Mikey matter-of-factly.

By Mosi Reeves