Brighten up with “The Innocents EP” from Kristoff Waltz

We still have some wintertime to go, but if the cold-weather blues have you down and staring at your offbrand lightbox isn’t doing anything but making the dreary morning reality harder to face, then The Innocents EP might be just what you need. It’s indie pop first and foremost with some surf leanings to keep things fresh, but the band’s tasteful instrumental finesse and penchant for earworm melodies subvert any twee blandness that label might imply.

The Innocents EP is available for streaming via Bandcamp, Spotify, and—since the 30-day trial you started to listen to The Life of Pablo is probably still going—Tidal. –Austin Phy