Miniature Tigers have a lot of quality elements that make up an ideal indie rock group. They've got the look, they've got the sound, and they've got Morning Benders front man Chris Chu as a producer on their recently released second full-length album, Fortress. If you're a Morning Benders fan then you've probably seen Miniature Tigers as an opener on their spring tour earlier this year.

Chu isn't behind every track; Neon Indian's Alan Palomo has been credited for producing the bands first single "Goldskull." On the tracks production process, lead singer Charlie Brand said, "We reached out to Alan to produce that track and ended up recording that song with him in a crazy all-nighter session until the sun came up."

After listening to the track, there's no doubt that the Alan left his mark. The clever hints of Neon Indian's glittering synths are present, but the great thing about this song is its languor. Whether it's the cunning background singing or the catchy melodies, this track has a substantial dream-like quality that can make one feel lethargic and giddy at the same time.

Praised for a more experimental sound, Fortress expands the groups 60s inspired sunny-pop into a more psychedelic, tribal-folk-meets-electro genre. "Bullfighter Jacket" blends Brand's uniquely charming voice with frantic yet tight piano pounding and musical background shouts, resulting in a lighthearted sunny afternoon anthem.

If you're still not convinced that these guys are worth your time, just put a couple of their songs on your iPod and play them on your drive home from work or school. I assure you that they will lift your spirits from a stressful day, and by the end of the car ride you'll notice that the catchy beats are still looping inside your head. The only remedy is to keep on listening!

Tracks by Miniature Tigers