The Cleveland six-piece Bears might have only played their first show together a year ago, but their new EP, The Shortest Day of the Year, is already their second release. Having made a few waves with last year’s self-titled full-length debut, this seven-song effort provides more of the same: soft, sweet, lovelorn indie-pop compulsively clad in the sound of crisp acoustic guitars. “You Can Tell” is one of those songs that feels strangely familiar the very first time you hear it. “Losing My Love” floats by as a tender melody, only a minute long. “My Pain” finishes things off with a subtly driving piano. The Shortest Day of the Year is simple and pure and brief, giving you just enough to keep you looking forward to the next Bears full-length, which, at the pace they’re working, can’t be that far off.

• "Those Years" MP3