We’re in the midst of preparing our best albums of 2011, but we can’t overlook the shorties that caught our eyes this year. These were our favorite EP’s of the year, topped by one of the biggest surprises of the year in Alabama Shakes. We’re locking in a session with them as we speak (fingers crossed). We’ll also be releasing a session with Ivan and Alyosha in the coming weeks. The twelve-piece collective, Typhoon, became a favorite last year with their debut album Hunger and Thirst and their A New Kind Of House EP is an outstanding follow up. I’ve also been waiting for The Wooden Sky to release something new since falling in love with his/their debut in 2009. Love his vocals. And lastly, ever heard of The Decemberists?
1. Alabama Shakes
2. Typhoon – A New Kind Of House
3. Ivan and Alyosha – Fathers Be Kind
4. The Wooden Sky – City Of Light
5. The Decemberists – Long Live The King
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Love each and every one of these!
I would include Gary Clark Jr on that list, although don’t know if I’d replace any of yours with him because he’d previously released some of the songs on his Bright Lights EP. Brill stuff though; wish he’d devote his full attention to music and forget about acting. There’s hundreds of run of the mill actors – but no one else can play blues guitar like him.
Isn’t his bright lights EP the one released this year? I love “Don’t Owe You a Thing” and “Bright Lights” but the album was disjointed to me. Two studio cuts and two live cuts and then “things are changin” feels so out of place. Sounds like an R&B Maxwell track on a Black Keys album or something. He still would have been a solid choice for sure.
I was thinking of doing a Best EP list too. Guess there’s no need now. Well done.
No Pickwick?!
if you missed it, check out PAPA – A Good Woman is Hard to Find
Very nicely done. Very rootsy selections with the ambiance that seems to infiltrating indie music these days.
Some good choices there, I quite also like the Daughter – His Young Heart EP, Wavves – Life Sux EP and Ben Howard – Old Pine EP.
Two 2011 EPs I really enjoyed are This Is a Desert by The Henry Clay People and Way Upstate… by Frontier Ruckus. Check ‘em out if you haven’t already.
Nice recommendations QBN. I wasn’t even aware that Henry Clay or Frontier Ruckus released EP’s this year. Listening to FR now and digging it. Love those guys.
I’m looking forward to the next full length album by FR.
I would include Via Flamina on that list.
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