If Passion Pit and The Postal Service got drunk one night and had a kid out of wedlock, the result would be Stepdad. Hailing from Michigan, Stepdad is a two piece electronic pop outfit that specializes in synthesizers and has a sense of humor that other bands nowadays seem to lack (they wrote the theme song to popular webcomic Axe Cop for god's sakes!) They aren't self-important or feel like they are going to start the new music revolution; they are just two guys who like to make music and it shows.
Their first release, an 8-song EP called Ordinaire, has a definite sense of humor to it, but showcases some interesting sounds. The vocals are Passion Pit-like, sung in a higher pitch (not that that makes you less manly or anything), and the music is definitely reminiscent of The Postal Service (as well a little Atom and His Package thrown in for good measure... name-dropping bands is the name of the game today, my music loving friends). 
The first song, "Jungles," is low key and sung in a very monotone serious way, and I couldn't help but think of the "nu-metal" craze from the late '90s when I heard the electronic drum beat and the melody of the lyrics. It's a downbeat way to start the EP, and I was a little put off by it, but it's by no means a horrible song.
The next song, "Squares," was more up my alley. Upbeat synthesizers, a catchy chorus, I couldn't help but envision people bobbing their heads side to side to the beat with ridiculous grins.
That starts a string of seven songs back to back, peppy and upbeat, with some really well written lyrics full of metaphors ("My Leather, My Fur, My Nails" especially). The best out of all of them is "Cutie Boots." Don't be turned off by the title; this is one of the best love songs I've heard in awhile. The lyrics are excellent and unlike other metaphor-heavy love songs that crowd the airwaves nowadays; this one gets right to the point of longing and missing the one you love. As a man in a long distance relationship currently, it hit home for me.
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