Employing a heady mix of Beach Boys-inspired male/female harmonies and a penchant for cleverly arranged, folk-influenced pop confections in the vein of Mates of State, Phoenix, Essex Green, and Local Natives, the band released its debut EP, Where's the Sun, in September 2009 on its own Washashore imprint, followed by the full-length Our Songbook later that year. The Through the Trees EP arrived in 2010, followed by another EP, St. Croix, in 2011. In 2012, Family of the Year returned with their sophomore album, Loma Vista, featuring the single "Hero," which featured prominently in director Richard Linklater's ambitious 2014 film Boyhood, and became an international hit. The following year saw the release of the group's eponymous third album. ~ James Christopher Monger