Rewards

After leaving Chairlift's lineup in 2010, Aaron Pfenning returned his focus to Rewards, a solo project he'd been working on since 2003. Pfenning had worn multiple hats during his five-year run with Chairlift, serving as the band's lead guitarist, backup vocalist, producer, and co-writer of nearly every song, including the hit single "Bruises." He rolled all of those responsibilities into Rewards, too, combining his previous band's penchant for atmospheric, '80s-influenced electro-pop with a soft and whispery acoustic aesthetic. ~ Andrew Leahey