The mix of shoegazing moodiness, clipped rhythms, and deep textures that makes Pinback such an intoxicant appears in similar form in K. Preston Merkley's lulling tracks. Merkley's main amendment is an earnest vocal sense: his nerd-rock tenor is more than just another instrument.
Ocean City Defender creates sprawling sounds evoking comparisons to 80's shoegaze - yet keeping songs terse - and with the melody and hooks inherent of 60's pop song styling.