Tennis may be a band with a groan inducing back story. But over the course of two full-length albums and a brand new EP, the band’s music is now guiding their path. Formed by the husband and wife duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore, Tennis has smoothed out their fuzzy girl-group indebted beginning to become a hook factory borrowing uncool styles from groups like the Carpenters and making them cool. With a new label and a new EP, Small Sound, released yesterday, the band is starting the second chapter of the their story. “Mean Streets” is a tightly packed piano-driven track that leads off Small Sound. Staying in line with the brighter production of the band’s second record, Young and Old, the track is a throwback with a two bright cheery choruses. While Moore and Riley have always sounded happy on record, they have never sounded this confident, and it is a good look.

Tennis play tonight with Night Sweats, On and On, Savior Adore and Mellen at the Black Cat. Tickets are $12 Adv/$15 Doors.