Kevin Bronson on November 30th, 2012

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The Steelwells emerged from Orange County in late 2009 with their “Shallow on the Draft,” a bright, guitar-based EP notable for its colorful melodies and sunny disposition. But unlike a lot of newbies who poked their heads out of the studio at the time, the indie-rock quintet seemed in no big hurry to attempt world domination. The band – Joey Winter, Andrew Eapen Jonathan Bradley, Robbie Gullage and Billy Kim – diligently worked on songwriting and honing their sound. The results are striking: Steelwells’ (they seem to have dropped the “The”) new “Cool Kids” EP (released this week as a free download) is less guitar-reliant and heavier on the synths. Yes, that’s currently fashionable, but the approach serves Steelwells’ songs well, as the fivesome slathers electronics onto its guitar-bass-drums to infiltrate the psych-pop ocean, although still buoyantly as ever.

||| Download: “Hands Up”

||| Also: Stream/download the rest of the free EP on Soundcloud.

||| Previously: “Boxes” and “El Capitan” video.

||| Live: Steelwells play Monday at the Satellite as part of the Henry Clay Peoples’ residency.