“All the Stars,” a song about being young and looking at stars and playing music, is impeccably constructed with intertwining guitars, keys, and (apparently) a horn section in a beautifully balanced melodic counterpoint. The whole is so harmonious that it’s hard to take Chris “Grizzle” Gregory seriously when he sings: “All the stars we saw have changed/and I might break the law or go insane/if I don’t find some peace of mind someday.” But almost any band that’s been around long enough to find some local success after two full length albums and an EP can probably relate to his plaint about the good old days “Back when we were cute/and people used to pay to hear us sing.”

“Future Blues” starts slow, with just high-hat and a nice full burbling bass line and gradually puts all the elements together, building to a driving, anthemic chorus. They’re not afraid to use a twinkly synthesized space noise like Bowie, nor does Golden Bear shy away from heartfelt lyrics about fear of the future. The result pays homage to stripped-down funk as well as Beach Boys-style songwriting, with layers of close harmonies and a full dynamic range.

The title track, “Everest,” is comparatively uninspiring, delivering a display of competent musicianship but little else. Again, the missing link may be the energy of a live show. The weakness of this EP is that too many tracks blend into one amorphous sound: big, heavy-hitting drums, lots of cymbal, fuzzed-out rhythm guitar, distinct but repetitive Rhodes tracks, and wonderfully wankerish lead guitars that hearken back to an era of big mustaches and terrycloth shorts. Gregory’s singing sounds strained when it’s not simply nondescript, adding little to the mix. I’d like to hear more songs that deliver on the promises held out by “All the Stars” and “Future Blues,” with their creative instrumentation, rock-steady hooks, and more minimal approach to composition. Although every song works well enough, these point the way to a more complex and pleasurable sound.

- Donna Blumenfeld