America Del Sur was formed in late 2005 by highschool friends Chris Foley, Phil Cardona, and Taylor Ross. Three years, a foreign exchange trip to Turkey, relocation to the city, and several bass players later, the heart of the band remains Taylor and Phil. They aim to inject a small amount of sincerity into the mess of a music scene that calls Jacksonville, Florida home.

America Del Sur (”America of the South”) is basically Phil Cardona and Taylor Ross. Friends from high school days back in Jacksonville, Florida, the band released their self titled debut at Rack & Ruin, a Dutch Netlabel online since early 2008 but with a back catalog of +70 records already.

Here, number 64 is the one you definitely need to know. Cardona and Ross manage to mix angst-ridden Indierock (”Evil Pop”) and sophisticated white boy Jazzpop (”I Don’t Know You”) like a duck takes to water. Their drums sound like shit, the guitars are tied just beneath the chin very probably. There is some Surf in there. But just like for recent NYC darlings Vampire Weekend, it’s the fine vocal harmonies that keep the whole thing going- and America Del Sur at heavy rotation in my player. Ace.

phlow-magazine.com