Nada Surf

Containing tracks originally recorded for an LP that was never released, the Karmic EP has a couple of good moments that reflect the tail end of early-'90s alterna-rock, opening with "Telescope," which shows some promising guitar texture underneath a solid melody. "Sea Knows When" is vaguely influenced by Urge Overkill and R.E.M., and "Everybody Lies" is saved by a great bassline and some nice organ. "Treehouse" picks things up with a high-energy riff and seems to be the connecting force of the EP, finding the early Nada Surf taking elements of Pavement in an extremely pop direction. Although it suffers from some flat recording, closing track "Nothing" sounds like it might be great live. [The 2007 reissue included the bonus track "Pressure Free."] ~ Scott Janovitz, All Music Guide