For as long as we’ve known them, Ventura’s Tall Tales and the Silver Lining have been great at painting pictures with their songs. Whether it be a place, a look, or an emotion, frontman Trevor Beld-Jimenez can nail it, thanks in big part to his sweet and pitchy register and narrative lyrical style. For Winter Singles, Beld-Jimenez evokes the essence of California winters with a four-track EP that’s primed for hazy drives down the coast. Lead track “Go Alone” is a rollicking folk-pop rumination on growing up, complete with a bust-the-doors-wide-open breakdown. Later, “Collar to the Wind” employs a nice little guitar distortion and echo to conjure thoughts of ’50s rock-and-roll minimalism and dusty Mulholland Drive-style landscapes. That there are no quiet acoustic numbers or sad songs about snow on Winter Singles is not only fitting; it feels like a clever nod to California’s past and present. Visit talltalesandthesilverlining.bandcamp.com to order.