EZTV High in Place

In the year and change since we’ve been introduced to Brooklyn trio EZTV, they’ve become stunningly consistent purveyors of high-level pop-rock with strains of retro folk and psych — so consistent, in fact, that they’re already following up last year’s great Calling Out with another LP.

High In Place further cements this band’s mastery of songwriting and mood, flexing an affinity for Byrds-style jangle, air-light Feelies new wave, and the studio-pop perfection of Jeff Lynne. Musically EZTV are close cousins with Real Estate, whose Martin Courtney and Matt Kallman are part of a star-studded High In Place guest list that also includes Jenny Lewis, Chris Cohen, Quilt’s John Andrews, Nic Hessler, and Mega Bog.

The real attention-grabbers here, though, are EZTV themselves. The sheer number of striking guitar sounds and riffs on this album is astounding, and that six-string action is always deployed in service of the song, held down by a rhythm section that always seems to find some subtle flash of genius yet never loses the beat. You might not notice a band like this because they don’t really have a gimmick, and they’re not doing anything particularly flashy or new. But few bands have so quickly gained mastery over their aesthetic while also writing the songs to back it up.

1. High Flying Faith
2. Racing Country
3. Reason to Run
4. Clear
5. States of Confusion
6. Hammock
7. Temporary Gold
8. Still
9. How Long's it Going to Be?
10. Goodbye Morning