If Los Angeles trio the Cold and Lovely seem determined to take their efforts out of the realm of “side project,” their “Ellis Bell” EP succeeds in a big way. Owing to the muscular shoegazers and arena-hopping anthemic rockers of the 1990s, the three-piece follows up last year’s self-titled LP with an audacious six-pack of songs made to be played ear-bleedingly loud. The music took shape between the members’ other commitments — the Cold and Lovely are fronted by singer-guitarist-producer Meghan Toohey (the Weepies, Lenka, Schuyler Fisk), who along with bassist Nicole Fiorentino (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Spinnerette) fashioned the songs on which mixer Dave Cooley put the finishing touches. Fans of My Bloody Valentine, Pale Saints, Curve and U2 will want to take note. As Toohey says, “I dug really deep into albums that changed my life. … I tried to pinpoint what I loved about the guitar tones and production. I wanted there to be a grit to this record that I hadn’t truly expressed the way I wanted to on the first record.” Mission accomplished. - KEVIN BRONSON, BUZZ BANDS LA 2013 Alternative rock band based in Los Angeles. Our new EP, "Ellis Bell" is available on iTunes!