20 Best Modern Surf Rock Songs (2005–Present)
From indie favorites like Peach Pit and Surf Curse to rising underground acts, these tracks prove surf rock is alive, evolving, and still sounds like summer.
It may have been a few years since the Safaris released their hit “Wipeout” but the sound they brought to rock hasn’t gone away. It sounds a little different, more electronic, with some more layers to the production, but the feeling of the beach and the surf is still alive and well. Hop on your board and dive into our top 20 list of Surf Rock tracks that have come out within the past two decades.
Editor’s Note
Modern surf rock isn’t just a revival—it’s an evolution. While the genre still leans on reverb-heavy guitars and sun-soaked melodies, today’s version blends indie rock, bedroom pop, and alternative influences into something more layered and emotional.
At Top40Weekly, we focused on songs that feel like surf rock—tracks with movement, atmosphere, and that unmistakable sense of escape. Some lean nostalgic, others fully modern, but all capture the same core spirit.
This list reflects how surf rock continues to grow while staying true to what made it timeless in the first place, with contributing editor Sydney Rednik helping shape its modern, indie-leaning direction.
Best Modern Surf Rock Songs
1. Sol Del Sur – Sun Room (2020)
Starting off strong with a song all about how the southern sun shines. The lead guitar keeps you on your board, while the drums keep you in rhythm, making for an easy listening experience.
2. Insomnia – The Moss (2022)
The Moss is one of my favorite indie bands in recent years. Their music is written well, has great energy, and it always sounds like the band is enjoying their time telling us their stories. With this track specifically, you hear more from the bass and the bass drum, driving like it’s a wave picking up its pace as it hits the shore. The rhythm guitar is a main driver of this track, with chords ebbing and flowing, blurring the line between verse and chorus.
3. What Is Love? Tell Me Is It Easy? – Hala (2016)
An easy listen. A simple guitar. Another driving bass. What more could you want from a track that feels like a day on the beach? Our narrator is seemingly talking to themselves, asking the rhetorical question, “is love easy?” While the answers may vary, your feelings about this track shouldn’t. Throw this song on your favorite beach playlist and enjoy the waves.
4. Oysters in My Pocket – Royel Otis (2022)
This track is a fan favorite. After going viral on Tik Tok, Royel Otis is likely one of the most streamed bands on this list. Their discography runs deep, but this viral song is a great example of what their music sounds and feels like. With heavy bass, and a simple lead guitar, their lyrics transport you onto the shore. This track feels like a summer at the Jersey Shore, riding your bike on the boardwalk, collecting shells on the shore, and enjoying the beautiful sunsets.
5. I’m Not Making Out With You – Surf Curse (2015)
The intro guitar and hits on the snare are enough to drag yourself to the sand. The instruments are what drive this track, as the lyrics are just so-so, but you can’t help but bop your head along to that beat. Throw it on as you drive to the shore, or during a mid-day bike ride, their energy will make you hit a new PR.
6. Chagu’s Sideturn– Peach Pit (2018)
While not my favorite track from Peach Pit ever, this track is a great example of the variety Peach Pit displays across their discography. The lead guitar draws you in, while layered vocals from Peach Pit’s Neil Smith keep you engaged. I love when they drop the instruments out in the bridge, and leave the drums on their own for a few seconds, like taking a breather after you catch a wave.
7. 70s Haze – VIKA (2020)
Finally – a female lead vocalist! The fuzzy guitars feel like an early summer day, just before it gets too hot. A more subdued track, the drums provide an easy rhythm to nod along to. Grab your towel, hit the sand for a tan, and “melt away in this 70s haze”.
8. Nova Scotia 500 – Boyscott (2019)
That lead guitar…. Just nails the surf rock sound. Though I can’t surf, this track makes me want to hop on a board and just figure it out. I won’t actually do that, but this song makes me feel like I could try.
9. The Basement – Lunar Vacation (2018)
This song was one of my favorites in high school. There’s something about that lead guitar!! This track exudes happiness and riding your bike to your friend’s house after school. While not necessarily the typical “surf rock” track, the bass and guitar feel like they were meant to be played on the sand.
10. Money – The Drums (2011)
Another viral Tik Tok example, it’s shocking that a track from 15 years ago gained footing on a social media platform, but that’s the way of the world now! I credit Tik Tok for exposing me to this band, and I’m glad it did. Another example of bass playing a key factor, along with some kind of keyboard sound that honestly isn’t my favorite. This track transports me back to itching to buy a gift on the boardwalk but not quite having the funds to do it. Those Jersey Shore gift huts just keep getting pricier.
11. Parking Lots – Plums (2015)
Let’s give some credit to the background vocals on this, the “oohs” they provide throughout the track wrap you in a warm hug. The rhythm guitar drives it home, with a steady pace. I love that the vocals are drawn back, the listener is able to enjoy the instrumental aspect of the track more. Though I honestly cannot understand some of the lyrics they’re singing, the instrumental aspect is what brings me back to this track.
12. Someday – The Growlers (2013)
A combination of hazy vocals and stringy rhythm guitar, this track jumps right into the waves. Though more a love song, again the instrumental drives this more than anything. In the chorus, the melody rises up, then falls again going into the bridge, much like a wave would as you hunt the ocean for the next barrel to hit.
13. The Art School Kids – Slow Hollows (2015)
Yes, the title is a bit misleading, but wait until you hear the track. The lead singer has a laid back style, but the chorus builds and drives you over to the next verse. Don’t miss the guitar solo at the 2 minute mark! His voice and lyrics feel like the end to a long day at the beach, as you’re watching the sunset or eating your fresh seafood after a long day of riding the waves.
14. Chasing Waves – Vista Kicks (2016)
I mean, the proof is right in the title. There is something to be said about the bass lines on all of these tracks and this one is no exception. This chorus is one of my favorites of all the tracks on this list. The instruments complement each other, but don’t feel overpowering. The melodies are light and playful and the verses fall back like hitting a wave easily, then crashing as it hits the shore. The lyrics are emblematic of what a surf rock song should be, and if I could surf, I would compare the choruses to what (I assume) feels like catching a perfect wave.
15. Peach Trees – Ax and the Hatchetmen (2019)
Likely our shortest track on the list, this is the first one with a horn section! I found this band through Tik Tok (again) during COVID. Their lyrics are easy to follow, with light guitar, and a driving snare. These guys nail the feeling of riding around a beach town mid-day, looking out for your summer crush, or just a place to hang.
16. Wrong or Right – Surf Trash (2020)
This band just wants an answer from their potential partner. Are we wrong or right for each other? “Make up your mind, stop killing time”, they’re pleading to know where the other stands.This track is another example of the instruments driving the surf rock feeling.
17. Blame Brett – The Beaches (2023)
From the first note hit, you know this lead guitar will be the driving factor out of the instruments present. The bass picks up for the second verse, but that guitar comes and steals its spotlight back. Another female vocalist, this track sounds like a Heart song reimagined. These women are not afraid to express their feelings, and make sure not to let them around your friends or (apparently) your dad.
18. Beaches – The Cavves (2018)
A happy day on the beach! Grab your towels, your board, your buckets and pails and hit the sand. This song is sunshine and running around on the beach in a nutshell. It immediately throws you into their vision, reflecting on their past, but also looking at their present. This song doesn’t take breaks, it just makes you want to tap your feet for 3 minutes.
19. Ain’t For the Faint – Skegss (2025)
One of our newer choices, this track is more about the instruments for me than the lyrics, no need to be singing about farting (in my opinion). But their guitars and the fuzz on their voices just exemplify why I think surf rock is back and here to stay. Though, did it ever leave?
20. Out of Tune – Backseat Lovers (2018)
Another case of showcasing a track that isn’t my favorite, from a band I’ve been listening to for as long as I can remember. Similar to Peach Pit, this track doesn’t showcase the Backseat Lovers’ variety and musicianship. They consistently release solid albums with relatable lyrics and great instrumental parts. “Out of Tune” represents their step into modern surf rock. The lead guitar and hi-hat in the intro guide you in to a very enjoyable listening experience. I love that the lead gives way to the rhythm guitar in the verses, it’s a unique way to craft and layer a song, and they blend electronic and acoustic seamlessly. I’ve always loved their musicianship and lyricism, and this song does a great job of showcasing each.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines modern surf rock?
Is surf rock still popular today?
How is modern surf rock different from classic surf rock?
Why do so many surf rock songs focus on instrumentation?
Related Articles
Conclusion
What stands out most when listening through this list is how flexible surf rock has become. It’s no longer tied to one era, one sound, or even one type of artist.
Some of these tracks lean indie. Others lean pop. A few flirt with classic rock influences. But all of them capture that same core feeling—movement, warmth, and a sense of escape.
And honestly, that’s what keeps surf rock relevant. It adapts without losing its identity.
Resources & External Links
To support this list with real editorial weight and give readers deeper context, here are verified sources tied directly to modern surf rock, featured artists, and the genre’s evolution.
Key Track & Artist Coverage (From This List)
- Surf Curse – “Freaks” (Background & Viral Impact)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaks_(Surf_Curse_song)
→ Explains how the track went viral years after release, becoming a defining modern surf rock moment (Wikipedia) - Surf Curse – Heaven Surrounds You (Album Review)
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/surf-curse-heaven-surrounds-you/
→ Highlights the band’s evolution and emotional guitar-driven sound central to modern surf rock (Pitchfork) - The Drums – “Money” (Critical Reception)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_(The_Drums_song)
→ Noted for its “ping-pong guitar lines” and bittersweet tone, a core surf-pop characteristic (Wikipedia) - Surf Curse – “Disco” (Modern Indie-Surf Crossover)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_(Surf_Curse_song)
→ Shows how surf rock aesthetics continue to evolve and trend on platforms like TikTok (Wikipedia)
Modern Surf Rock Scene & Genre Evolution
- Modern Surf Rock Sound Breakdown (Editorial Insight)
https://swimintothesound.com/blog/tag/Caroline%2BRose
→ Describes the genre as a mix of “fast-paced aggression and laid-back good nature,” capturing its modern identity (Swim Into The Sound) - Pitchfork – Indie & Surf-Adjacent Album Reviews
https://pitchfork.com
→ One of the most authoritative sources for indie and alternative coverage shaping modern surf rock perception - NME – Indie & Alternative Artist Coverage
https://www.nme.com
→ Tracks emerging surf-adjacent acts and viral indie crossover trends
Community & Listener Perspective (Real-World Classification)
- Reddit Discussion: What Counts as Modern Surf Rock?
https://www.reddit.com/r/surfrock/comments/1ie9spu/are_these_bands_modern_surf_rock/“Surf has morphed into something different… in the past 20 years it’s had a resurgence” (Reddit) - Reddit Recommendations Thread (Modern Bands)
https://www.reddit.com/r/surfrock/comments/pgonq6/recommend_me_some_modern_surf_rock_bands/
→ Lists bands like The Moss, Surf Curse, and Skegss—directly aligning with this article’s selections (Reddit)
Streaming & Discovery (User Intent + Engagement Signals)
- Spotify – Modern Surf Rock Playlists
https://open.spotify.com - YouTube – Official Track Links (See Source List)
Sydney Rednik
Sydney Rednik is a contributing editor at Top 40 Weekly, diving deep into the meaning and cultural relevance of a variety of music genres. At 23 years old, she is currently working at the National Football League as a Production Assistant on the Music Administration Team. She’s a Syracuse alum, a New Jersey native, and is currently enjoying the sun of Los Angeles.
Sydney’s knowledge and passion for music know no bounds. From 90s Hip-Hop to 70s Progressive Rock to modern pop, she is obsessed with listening to and finding music.
Ask her about her Spotify playlist collection or a Tribe Called Quest, and she will talk your ear off for hours, so be careful. With a deep passion for music supervision, Sydney hopes to hone her skills in talking about music and all of its facets.