Land of Pines

This debut EP may clock in at only four tracks, yet there's enough depth and sonic variety from this Seattle five-piece that it becomes easy to imagine it being the beginning of a fruitful career. Land of Pines are young enough that their missteps — predictable chord progressions and an unnecessary focus on harmonies — are forgivable. But they largely succeed with the grand, pronounced statements they make in their textured, catchy Northwest pop. Scrappy vocals from Evan Easthope complement the soaring work from Kessiah Gordon, most notably on "Dead Feathers," a joyous, effervescent summer track that represents Land of Pines' continual movement quite well. As grand as The Long Defeat may strive to be, the group do a remarkable job not taking themselves too seriously. The hasty production doesn't highlight their songwriting as well it should, but The Long Defeat serves the band's sense of immediacy while still showcasing a sense of poise that could keep them around for the long run. Firmly rooted in '90s-era pop rock, "Cave Painting" is overflowing with optimism, while "Scotch Broom" digs its way out of the sludge with potency in its drive. Never too cerebrally involved, The Long Defeat shows great promise.