Summer approaches, and D.D. Island's new album Lost Dog marks the occasion with tracks full of bandleader Brandon Rhodes's chilled-out arrangements and lyrics. Rhodes emerged into the Nashville scene with the release of the EP Last Summer in 2018, and this summer, the singer-songwriter continues to bring light into the world through grooves like "Sawtooth Sunshine", the first single from Lost Dog, which makes for perfect beach hammock music. Rhodes will take D.D. Island in its full band setup on a brief tour later in June to promote Lost Dog. Take a listen to "Sawtooth Sunshine" below. - Will Sisskind

 Brandon Rhodes makes love songs in his bedroom. Or, at least, that's what the "about" section of D. D. Island's Facebook page tells us. His new EP Last Summer is indeed very love-ly. Frontman Rhodes has a divine, Elliott Smith / Bright Eyes vocal timbre- most of the time it sounds as if he's either just woken up, or is lounging in a hammock. The same could be said about the rest of the arrangement, especially of "Lover Girl," which features a lightly strummed acoustic guitar and washed out, plucked electric guitars. "Watching All My Days" also reminds me of early Tennis, with that slightly beachy, vintage sound. Overall, Last Summer is a great EP for a nostalgic September day- we know those are slipping through our fingers. -Geena Kloeppel