Stream: The Shelters, ‘The Shelters’ (full EP)

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The Shelters in September at Tarfest (Photo by David Benjamin)
The Shelters in September at Tarfest (Photo by David Benjamin)

The Shelters don’t do anything quietly, as those who have happened upon the young L.A. quartet’s smattering of live shows have discovered. Well, except for release their debut EP, which they did Friday without much in the way of fanfare. No big press blast from their label, Warner Bos., only a modest premiere on Paste — mentioning that none other than Tom Petty co-produced — and a stream of four songs that ought to have fans of guitar rock (who, us?) genuflecting. The foursome — Chase Simpson, Josh Jove, Sebastian Harris and Jacob Pillot (the former two having played bit parts in Petty’s album “Hypnotic Eye”) — debuted in June with the garage-rocker “Birdwatching.” But they are much more, in sophistication and skill, than a garage band. They meld the spacey Laurel Canyon sound with the muscle of Sunset Strip rockers past and the rough-round-the-edges riffs of current indie favorites. Six-minute “The Ghost Is Gone” has a spooky Doors vibe (maybe it’s not gone after all?); “Liar” phases itself toward a blissful ’80s chorus; and “Fortune Teller,” with its harmonies, jangle and backbeat, recalls the mystic ’60s. All will blow your hair back live. Classic, yet current.

||| Stream: “The Shelters” EP

||| Live: The Shelters perform Sunday at Beach Goth 4 at the Observatory, Nov. 7 at the Glass House in Pomona and Nov. 19 at the Teragram Ballroom.