TV on the Radio. http://www.myspace.com/tvotr
How do I know they are a surf band? Because they say they are a surf band. Gotta love the myspace!
I don't know what possessed them to say they are a surf band. Having listened to them heavily I can honestly say I was 100% surprised to see them listed as surf. They don't have a beach boys sound, surf rock, or Jack Johnson sound. Nothing about them says "surf" or even beach. They have harmonies, but since when do harmonies mean surf?
I would describe them as three things, shoegaze(on the MBV side of things), electronic music, and hip-hop with harmonies.