Following Yellow House--one of 2006's most enduring releases--and well over a year's worth of touring, the Friend EP arrives to fill Grizzly Bear's studio gap. A collection of covers (both by them of others and others of them), remixes, and new tunes, this EP is naturally a little hit-and-miss. Still, the highlights are a stellar rendering of their rich sound; equally indebted to both ambient/electronic sensibilities and the classic sounds of doo-wop and Phil Spector. Their cover of "She Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)" is a revelation, while a cutting run through Yellow House standout "Little Brother" is a feast of ever-evolving energy.