I enjoyed all the tracks on the "Sanctuary E.P."  Each song is thoughtfully written, and interesting to listen to.  The vocals are melodic, and sound similar to Elliott Smith or Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie.     

The quality of the music is top notch.  It's composed of acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and occasional hand percussion. For a three-piece, the music is surprisingly original.  You won't find worn-out 3 chord progressions or stale drum beats on this E.P.  The bass is smooth and deliberate, the guitar is full and intricate, and the drums are crisp and infectious. 
Lyrical themes on the album include: overcoming challenges, dealing with change, politics, and relationships. 
I think "Tightrope" and "Inertia" are my two favorites from this collection. 
"Tightrope" features punchy bass-lines, progressive drums and uplifting vocals.  There's a lot of impressive guitar work in this song, including an energetic solo reminiscent Neil Young or Tom Petty.
"Inertia" offers floaty guitars riding on a memorable drum and bass groove.  The vocalist displays his range and creativity on this song, combining earthy low notes with ghostly highs for spacious, organic harmonies.

With time and experience I think Facing Winter will be capable of writing 5 star albums. For now, I give "The Sanctuary E.P." 4 stars and look forward to even better material in the future.
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