"I've got so much to say," sings Up the Empire guitarist Doug Keith on "Last of the Bullets," opener of their new EP Loose Ends. Even outside of its lyrical context, it's not an incorrect statement: this Brooklyn band's strength has always been in its members' disparate musical backgrounds, and in their search for new and unexpected ways to combine those experiences in the course of writing songs. Loose Ends finds the group's lineup pared down to a core trio, translating their ideas to notes, chords, and drumbeats with an increased clarity.

The three originals on Loose Ends find the vocal interplay between guitarist Keith and bassist Dan Hewins brought more to the foreground, with lengthier instrumental passages delving into a conspicuously expanded sound. The group's lyrics orient themselves far more on a personal level, conscious of the constant nature of change. Loose Ends concludes with a cover that's been a mainstay of Up the Empire's live shows for over a year now: Dinosaur Jr.'s "Feel the Pain." And it makes for a fitting close to this EP: a warm look back on one of their influences to conclude a concise statement on what those influences can produce.