The 10 Best EPs of 2011

The little bird in the artwork above may be a nod to the smaller nature of the EP but don’t think for a second that these mini-albums aren’t serious beasts. This is some Hitchcockian Birds business with ferocious and passionate music being delivered by some of the most exciting bands breaking out right now. It was certainly an exciting year for the oftenÂ under-appreciatedÂ EP format. In the increasingly saturated music world I really enjoy a well crafted EP that leaves me reaching for the repeat button instead of checking to see how many tracks are left. So lets all cheers to the short and sweet.

â™«Â = Click to play &Â right-click to download

10. The Good Natured – Skeleton

â™« The Good Natured – WolvesÂ /Â Single after sweet single didn’t stop this dark pixie and her band from delivering a great EP with even more surprises up it’s sleeve. Girl-fronted indie-Brit electro-dance at it’s finest.

9. Capital Cities – Capital Cities

â™« Capital Cities – Safe and SoundÂ /Â DecidedlyÂ polished pop and decidedly un-polished chins have never gone so well together. Love songs for people who care. Care about their lovers and care about dancing with them.

8. Art Imperial – Surf Suburban

â™« Art Imperial – My ChrystalÂ / Unhinged and ramshackle surf rock built out of the dreams of a man who lives hundreds of miles from the sea. I wouldn’t want any other soundtrack to a day at the real thing.

7. Theophilus London – Lovers Holiday

â™« Theophilus London – Why Even Try Feat Sara QuinÂ /Â London dropped (almost) all the best songs off his debut LP months earlier in the form of this tightly packed bin of funky grooves and thick swagger.

6. Mammal Club – The Au EP

â™« Mammal Club – OtterÂ /Â My speakers took a lot of damage this year from constantly cranking these tracks beyond recommended levels. Acutely angular and obtusely rhythmic these Brits cause severe shape pulling. And couch-mounted sing-alongs to impossibly wild vocals!

5. Jack Littman – The Mixtape

â™« Jack Littman – Sinking ShipÂ /Â Dark and somewhat sinister, yet absurdly catchy and often silly, LittmanÂ exercises his right to contradict what you think singer songwriters sound like.

4. Mitten – See You Bye

â™« Mitten – Similar SenseÂ /Â Absurdly catchy and kinetic indie music that is almost too solid for it’s own delicateness. Dance music for being alone.Â Summer music for winter time.

3. Jhameel – Dance

â™« Jhameel – Shut UpÂ /Â This spot might as well be a double bill with Jhameel’s more recent Waves series as both 5 song collections serve as undeniable body movers, as well documentation of the light-speed evolution of one of today’s great musical talents.

2. Y Luv – How Chill Can You Let Go

â™« Y Luv – All NightÂ /Â Stadium sized jams haven’t sounded this good in years. I saw these guys live a month ago and all 7 people in the audience felt something powerful. As for the rest of you yokels? Get yourself sorted ASAP.

1. Dream Jefferson – Sasquatch Bury Their Dead

â™« Dream Jefferson – VampyroteuthisÂ / Say what you want about Dream Jeff and their first of two near-albums of the year but I had this on the most vicious repeat regimen for most of the year. The Punch Perm EP was another winner but didn’t slam me as hard as this rapÂ sandwichÂ with a side of rock chips.

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