“Cozy,” the new EP by up-and-coming indie-pop musician Colin Bracewell released last Thursday and featured in a packed music release show at Fine Line, is some of the band’s best work yet.

Clocking in at just over 10 minutes, the four-track EP covers a lot of ground, with an equal mix of slow and fast songs that tackle relatable topics like love and growing up.

The EP kicks off with the title track, “Cozy,” an upbeat, more rock-influenced track that is just plain fun. While simple in its approach, the main chorus, “You got me feeling m-m-m, m-m-m, cozy, cozy” is an earworm and was stuck in my head for days.

Between the funky guitar riffs and the trumpet solo, performed by band member Nathan Loesch, “Cozy” is a great start to the EP.

The second track is “Dancing,” a slower, more chill love song. It is a good contrast from the title track while still managing to maintain the momentum of the first song. By the time “Dancing” picks up the pace in the second verse, there’s a solid chance you’ll be — like the title suggests — dancing along.

A highlight of this track is Bracewell’s vocals, which perfectly capture the song’s calm nature. His smooth singing on lines like, “Cause I like how you look / in moonlight or in snow. / It blocks out all the noise, / spotlights all your glow,” makes this song an easy and relaxed listen.

The third track, “Dirty Laundry,” is my favorite on the EP and one of my favorite songs Bracewell has written. It is the most driven song on the record with the tempo picking up again and some great drums and guitar.

“Dirty Laundry” details growing up and living in current times and has a more angsty sound before settling into a peaceful resolution. It is a wonderful penultimate track that leaves listeners satisfied yet eager to hear Bracewell’s final song.

The EP concludes with “Alright,” a stripped-down, calmer song that feels like a warm hug. Bracewell described this song as more experimental and lo-fi compared to some of his previous work.

Bracewell’s vocals are, once again, a standout. His upper register sounds gorgeous with the soft strings and harmonica in the background, making “Alright” an exceptional sendoff to the EP.

“Cozy” was accompanied by a release show last Thursday at Fine Line in Minneapolis, with opening sets by Creeping Charlie, Chutes and Pit Stop. Despite the EP coming out that day, the crowd knew every word.

“If you like it and know it, sing along,” Bracewell said before jumping into another song for the energized audience. 

The atmosphere of the release show was unmatched, mostly because of the excellent stage presence of Bracewell and great musical performances by drummer Joseph Sicora, guitarist and bassist Cole Grundhoefer, and trumpeter and bassist Loesch. Pair that with an electric crowd and you get an all-around outstanding show.

Other highlights from the performance were the angelic singing from background vocalist Sarah Brammer and Bracewell going into the audience and playing his guitar with the crowd jumping around him.

Along with the four new songs, Bracewell and his band performed fan favorites like “Slopes” and “Autumn,” as well as covers of “Love You for a Long Time” by Maggie Rogers and “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and featured in the hit 2023 film “Saltburn.” Overall, there was a little something for everyone.

With the release of “Cozy,” fans can rest assured Bracewell and his band’s impressive talents are not going anywhere anytime soon.