If Brooklyn-based Manager’s 2017 self-titled debut EP is chunky peanut butter, then this year’s follow-up Landline is creamy smooth. The band layers beautifully in songs like “Steven Tipton” (streaming) whose guitars create a surfy, relaxed vibe that slightly warps in the choruses. “Hybrid” has an upbeat drum pattern you cannot help but move to and distorted guitars that highlight the rock aspect of this group’s indie-rock vibe. The entire EP is decked with rich harmonies and jaunty melodies that, along with the music’s breezy ambiance, produce a suaver version of the sound that bands like Wavves offer. Manager has played at Pianos NYC on more than one occasion, and with the release of this EP, they are gearing up for a busy summer. – Rene Cobar
