Cattle Drums' The Boy Kisser Sessions is a five-song EP that will not settle for a second, and it's all part of its charm and impression.

The way opener "New Furniture and Wigs" comes in, you're going to expect maybe some bluesy, southern-type folk-punk. But that's not at all what ensues (you sort of get that later on closer "Two Pigeons"), as looser, seemingly Dischord-influenced post-hardcore shouts--very clean, melodic ones, though--come over a dizzying banjo line. Pretty sure it's a banjo, anyway. It works, though, in a schizophrenic pop-punk way.

"Who Punched Pat Moore's Face" continues these ideas with a spazzier Menzingers-type vibe, but "Bovrg the Nag"? With its downbeat tension, there's a bit of a La Dispute feeling there.

However, the EP's best is "Sluts and Coconuts," hands down. It goes on a punky power-pop bend with super loose, earnestly yelped vocals all over the track's otherwise controlled, measured flow. There's some '90s emo noodles, a big, stomping chorus, and the beginning of it reminds me of Nada Surf's "Popular," oddly enough.

I can't quite be certain what Cattle Drums are going for on this EP, nor can I say they're there. But it's some of the more wildly unpredictable and yet melodic stuff I've heard all year and it's got promise written all over it.

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The Boy Kisser Sessions EP