On their debut EP (following their first disc, the self-released 7″ single “Take Your Hats Off, Godless Bastards”), the Lovely Sparrows from Austin, TX, prove to be a melodic folk-pop band with a playful edge. Leader Shawn Jones sings over an acoustic guitar and lightly psychedelic keyboards, his musings ranging from warnings to an “Attention Disorder Kid” to the urging, “Let’s Watch the Tourists.” The Lovely Sparrows seem to still be learning to play together, and the arrangements can be slightly shambolic at times, but that is a question of execution and will improve. What’s more important is that Jones exhibits good musical and lyrical ideas, which suggests that this is a band with potential to develop. – William Ruhlmann