Eastern Phoebes keeps it short and sweet on “Sprouts” EP

Released last August, Eastern Phoebes’ Sprouts is everything you could ask for from an indie pop EP: short, to the point, and most importantly sweet. Across its five songs, the set captures upbeat chord progressions and cheery vocal melodies sung with a restraint that keeps them from distracting from the rest of the music at hand. The best song here is “Rolling Nightmare, I Believe In You,” which nears the sonic weirdness of psychedelic rock on its unpredictable chorus. If you’re a brass fan, press play on “Science + Mysticism,” which makes great use of the trombone on its simple hook, and later “If I Could Ever Disappear,” which uses the instrument to end the EP on a bright note. Mark your calendars to catch the band at the Wharf Pub in Newport, Rhode Island, on February 22. – Jake Reed