#extended plays

[wefindourselves]

[sugarandvinyls]

[stupiditytried]

I'll be your core, don't you doubt it anymore

[musicforthemusicallychallenged]

Music For The Musically Challenged's Favorite EPs

Better than a single and sometimes just as good as an album, the EP (i.e. extended play) has proved to be one of the best ways for a musician to prove to the world that they know how to create a vision of an album (even if it's a smaller vision) in half the time. Here, my very favorite EPs through the years.  

10. Benny and the Jetts by TV Girl (2011)

It's worth noting that this album isn't called Benny and the Jetts because it features a cover of the Elton John classic, but because there's a song on the album about a girl driving away while listening to the Elton John classic. In fact, a lot of TV Girl's hip-hop- and pop-driven songs (always full of jaunty beats) feature girls you just can't get through to. And their greatest tribute to a woman of that nature is "Lizzy Come Back To Life," the third track on this EP. Listen to it or regret not listening to it for the rest of your life. 

9. The Wild Youth by Daughter (2012)

These days, Daughter is most popular for their super depressing cover of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," but before that they released one of the most truism-filled EPs of 2012. The Wild Youth is endlessly quotable, striking millenial nerves at every turn—lead singer Elena Tonra was born in 1990—without completely tying itself to that generation or its way of life. Penultimate track "Youth" always gets to me. 

8. Please Clap Your Hands by The Bird and the Bee (2007)

In their nearly decade-long career (!), Anglo-American band The Bird and the Bee (a.k.a. singer Inara George and in-demand producer Greg Kurstin) have released two LPs of original material and an entire album of Hall & Oates covers, but I've always thought the hidden gems were on their many, many EPs. Of particular note are "Man" and "The Races" from this EP. And don't forget the excellent cover of The Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" that neatly and lovingly ties things off. 

7. EP 1 by FKA Twigs (2012)

I know. Most people think EP 2 is where it's at, but when I think of how much better "Hide" is than almost any other song I've heard in the past two years, I can't help but give my praise to EP 1. If you don't believe me, watch FKA Twigs, the artist formerly known as just Twigs, perform the song in a cave in Mexico this past winter and then you can tell me you don't agree. 

6. Vampires With Dreaming Kids by Twin Sister (2008)

Most of the music world was introduced to Twin Sister through their Color Your Life - EP, which boasts the hazy "Lady Daydream," but Twin Sister was putting out irresponsibly saccharine songs as far back as 2008 and Vampires With Dreaming Kids is their best. I'm especially drawn to the charming ode to domesticity, "I Want A House." 

5. Small Sound by Tennis (2013)

It's not terribly often that an established band releases a great EP in the middle of their career (established bands tend to rely on singles and their fandom to sell the next album), but such is the case with Tennis who released Small Sound between 2012's Young and Old and Ritual In Repeat, released this week. Small Sound is a revelation. Upbeat, but measured and filled with enough catchy hooks to merit repeat listenings. In fact, Track #2, "Timothy," was so strong that it made it onto Ritual.

4. Sun Giant by Fleet Foxes (2008)

Fleet Foxes are one of those bands that you always want more from, not knowing that they're always giving you only as much as you need. Such is the case with the wonderfully well-balanced Sun Giant, which is at turns serene and replete with conflict. It's also the home of Fleet Foxes' most popular tune to date, "Mykonos." So, in a way, they've never been able to do better than that song—not that I agree with that conclusion. 

3. King Krule by King Krule (2011)

Duh. Everyone knows that this is the EP that not only put King Krule on the critically-acclaimed map, but also held fans like myself over until the release two years later of 6 Feet Beneath The Moon. Most tend to gravitate toward album closer "The Noose of Jah City," which is admittedly unforgettable, but I've always felt an intense connection to "Portrait in Black and Blue." Spastic gyrations...

2. Pure Bathing Culture by Pure Bathing Culture (2012)

If Pure Bathing Culture were to say that their musical style was informed by the music of the late Luther Vandross, I would not be surprised. Their unique mixture of 80s easy listening meets tropicalia meets dream pop just works and that's most apparent on their short but infinitely sweet debut EP. Closing number "Gainesville" is especially poignant and always reminds me of the fall. 

1. Cotton Jones Basket Ride by Cotton Jones (2007)

And finally, my all-time favorite: Cotton Jones' very first EP is one of the strongest almost-albums I've ever listened to. In six songs and 23 minutes the band conveys everything I love about Southern folk, and subsequently, the South: the storytelling, the constant undercurrent of sadness, the poetry, the attachment to religion—it's all there. Since sharing this album in 2011, I've gotten a handful of requests for a copy of the long out of print EP (Cotton Jones is really into limited runs) and I can confirm that I'm still willing and able to send it to whoever is interested. All you gotta do is ask. 

[-danreynolds]

Imagine Dragons EPs

Imagine Dragons (2009) | Hell and Silence (2010)

It's Time (2011) | Continued Silence (2012)

Hear Me (2012) | The Archive (2013)

iTunes Session (2013) | Live at Independent Records (2013)

[mind--mischief]

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Cheatahs : The Swan

[1hatlady]

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"The Swan" Cheetahs

[side45x]

Bay Area Show Tip: Subhumans, Total Chaos, Conquest for Death

On-again off-again for the pass 33 years, anachro-punks Subhumans have banded once again--boasting ALL ORIGINAL MEMBERS--to play a few dates this May, including a gig this Friday May 24 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse.

Formed in 1980, their demo was out by '81 and impressed members of Flux of Pink Indians enough to help them get signed to Spiderleg, where they released several extended plays and their 1983 debut before forming their own record label, Bluurg. From 1983 through 2007 Subhumans released five more studio albums and singles records, reuniting for a handful of live shows in 1991, 1998, and a 2007 tour.

Also joining them on this live jaunt are--straight from '89--street punks Total Chaos and millennium band Conquest for Death, a united front of states as promised on their website: "Many Nations, One Underground is the manifesto, for lack of a better word, that Conquest for Death adheres to."

Tickets here. May 24, 2013 Oakland Metro Operahouse 8pm

Catch them while you can elsewhere: MAY 23 THE ALLEY, SPARKS, NV MAY 24 OPERA HOUSE, OAKLAND, CA +TOTAL CHAOS MAY 25 THE VEX, L.A. MAY 26 THE OBSERVATORY, SANTA ANA, CA +TOTAL CHAOS MAY 27 15th ANNUAL PUNK ROCK BOWLING FESTIVAL LAS VEGAS, NV, All Ages JUNE 8 PIPELINE, LONDON JUNE 9 VICTORIA INN, DERBY JUNE 10 WAGON + HORSES, BIRMINGHAM JUNE 11 THE HORN, ST ALBANS JUNE 14 AMNESIA ROCK FEST, QUEBEC JUNE 15 NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom JUNE 16 NEW YORK Music Hall of Williamsburg AUGUST 2 or 3 NORWAY KANALROCK FESTIVAL AUGUST 9 BLACKPOOL WINTER GARDENS REBELLION FESTIVAL