On Repeat's EPs of the Year
2023 was another great year for the short player
2023 was a banner year for full-length records, so it only stands to reason that the same would be true for EPs.
As with last year’s list, great sounds came from all corners of the globe.
The usual spots are well represented, but so too are places like (checks notes) Vermont, Phoenix, and Indonesia.
Santa Fe New Mexico is also once again rightfully represented.
Unlike my list of Best Of LPs, these are not ranked from bottom to top but rather listed in order of release date. Everything from shoegaze (so much shoegaze this year!) to power pop to new wave is represented here; doing a direct comparison or ranking felt like it’d be arbitrary at best.
So, with that out of the way, let’s get into it!
Hibou-Arc (1/13)
Elevator pitch: An incredible amount of sound from what is essentially a one-man band.
What I originally wrote:
Hibou is Peter Michel, a Seattle native now living in Paris. Arc is his first new music since 2019’s Halve. Arc continues, well, the arc of his discography, which is to say that there is lo-fi, shoegaze, and dream pop in equal measures here.
The opening track, “Night Fell,” sets the tone with a fast(er) pace and some light melodies. It’s a look back at a romance that’s over but still fresh enough to be tinged with regret.
The EP turns toward the dreamy with “June,” a song oozing with lilting guitars and a mesmerizing melody that feels like riding on a cloud but with a beat that’s just enough to keep things rolling along.
Closer “Already Forgotten” is a bit harder-edged (relatively speaking) and will remind you of Seventeen Seconds-era The Cure.
Bottom Line: It’s hard to believe that Hibou is essentially a one-man band. Jase Ilhier plays the drums here, but otherwise, it’s all Michel, and the result is five tracks of lush soundscapes and a full sound one usually finds in a full band.
crushed- Extra Life (2/10)
A little bit of shoegaze, a little bit of dream pop. A lot of awesome. It’s giving hot summer nights. This feels like a record that could only come from Los Angeles. Bandcamp link
Emperor X- Suggested Improvements to Transportation Infrastructure in the Northeast Corridor (3/9)
A title only a transportation nerd could love, but behind that unwieldy cover is a battery of great indie pop songs anyone will enjoy. I came across this thanks to the wonderful Rosy Overdrive blog.
From the man behind the music, Chad Matheny:
The EP, entitled Suggested Improvements to Transportation Infrastructure in the Northeast Corridor, consists of six tracks, each corresponding to a concert in the associated city and addressing specific infrastructure features that locals might recognize.
These songs are not cold hyper-local policy recommendations They are free-associative meditations on cold hyper-local policy recommendations. Or something…I don’t know, it’s hard to describe the emotions triggered by transit policy and 30 years of public infrastructure memories.
Lowmello- That Sweet Breath (3/31)
In an era where many artists focus only on showing their “best selves,” recoding a song (and video) about getting a DUI might seem like an odd move, but Abel John, aka Lomello, pulls it off. That night’s events turned out to be a catalyst for a series of life events for John. This single/EP is one of them.
From my earlier review & interview:
A lot of artists wear their hearts on their sleeves. Multi-instrumentalist Abel John put his into his latest EP.
Released via Santa Fe, NM-based Mama Mañana Records, That Sweet Breath is a fantastic blend of introspection and revelation. In an era of only showing our best selves and performative nonsense, John's willingness to lay bare his story of redemption is a refreshing change.
The record revolves around themes of loss, tricky relationships, and redemption- it’s navigating a heavier ground than his previous work. But the majority of the songs sound joyous. That dichotomy makes for a compelling listen.
Bandcamp link
Negative Glow- Volume 1 (4/20)
So, apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know that Bloomington Indiana was home to a thriving music scene. Negative Glow’s EP has just the right amount of fuzz in all the right places.
Bandcamp link
Heatwaves- Heatwaves #4 (5/9)
What I originally wrote:
Heatwaves are a Spanish group taking the best of 60s girl groups, power pop, and just a pinch of new wave, molding it into a wonderfully light 4-song EP.
11/10. No notes.
RIYL: Pizzicato Five, Saint Etienne, The Ronettes
hey, I’m outside- Smile (5/12)
If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for shoegaze, low-fi, anything recorded on a 4-track kinda stuff. Smile has that for days. And a little bit of funk, to boot. Don’t let the awkward band name throw you; this Massachusetts duo knows what they’re doing, and they do it well.
Bandcamp link
The Croaks- Croakus Pokus (7/28)
I’ll be honest; I was a little leery when I first came across this record. Folk Rock is not my thing. The band’s own description of “freak rock’ didn't exactly help, but it didn't take too long to win me over. The band also described this as an EP, which I originally wasn’t sure I agreed with, but at under 30 minutes, it fits.
From my original review:
Having spent some time with the record, I’m not sure that “freak rock” is the best way to describe the band’s sound. It’s melancholy without ever becoming dour. It’s bright without ever being in danger of becoming too peppy. It’s baroque without becoming too ornate. The songcraft is accomplished, and multiple instruments (dear reader, I did not expect to be reviewing a record with a harp on it) make for a lush soundscape.
With elements of chamber pop, folk-rock, and prog, the sound is eclectic but more refined than that label gives it credit for. It’s a great fit for these grey days with low light.
Bandcamp link
Sarah Shannon-Demo ‘98 (7/28)
In a year full of highlights, the news that Velocity Girl was getting back together to play a couple of shows stood out in particular. Then came news that lead singer Sarah Shannon would be releasing an EP of tracks that had long been gathering dust on a shelf. The tracks are just rough enough around the edges that you never forget they were demos, but Shannon's voice shines here, whether she’s covering Richard Thompson’s “I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight” or something of her own. Bandcamp link
Tossing Seed- When You Come Around (8/6)
This is the second year a band from Indonesia has made the cut. Longtime readers may remember that last year Feir were on the list with their fantastic self-titled EP. This time around, it’s Tossing Seed’s turn. This isn’t the first part of the world that comes to mind when it comes to shoegaze that will melt your speakers. Tossing Seed is working to change that.
Bandcamp link
The Reds, Pinks, and Purples- Inner Richmond (8/7)
At this point, I’m not sure Bay Area label Slumberland is capable of putting out a bad record. And I’m not sure Glenn Donaldson of The Reds, Pinks, and Purples can either. Donaldson also seems hell-bent on making a run at Robert Pollard’s title as most productive musician. Donaldson might crank records out fast, but my favorite forced me to slow down and enjoy it. Inner Richmond is all instrumentals, and it’s lovely. Perfect for a writing session, breakfast, or just walking around your neighborhood. Bandcamp link
Glixen- She Only Said (8/11)
Shoegaze as hot as the Arizona summer it was recorded in? Yes, please!
Bandcamp link
Old Moon-Early Days (8/21)
Vermont is known for its syrup, but its top exports are electronics and computer parts. For my money, their best export is Old Moon records.
Tom Weir records under the moniker Old Moon. Last year, Under All Skies was on this list. For 2023, his Early Days EP has earned a spot. These are tracks originally recorded in 2018 but unreleased until now. For having turned 5, they sound brand new. The sound is bright, the melodies addictive.
Bandcamp link
The BVs-Warp (8/25)
This 4 -piece’s Bandcamp blurb describes Warp as an “homage to the classic maxi singles of the 1980s; the a-side is an 8-minute extended version of their new dream-pop hit “warp,” with a long instrumental intro inspired by krautrock, Yo La Tengo and Disintegration-era The Cure. The two b-sides, “feedback” and “plins,” showcase the band’s further experimentation with synthesizers and darker instrumentation, whilst retaining the melancholic, nostalgic sound which characterised their earlier releases.”
I was sold when someone described this as sounding like “early New Order.” And it does remind me of the band’s Movement era, with just a little more light at the end of the tunnel.
Bandcamp link
Velocity Girl- Setting The Night On Fire With Rock and Roll (9/1)
As noted, it was a big year for Velocity Girl and their fans. Like Sarah Shannon, the band found several tracks they’d previously recorded, dusted them off, and released them as an EP, with wonderful results.
Bandcamp link
Hellen Stellar- Moonlight Amnesia (9/8)
After going dark for a while, most people thought the LA-by-way-of-Madison band had gone dark. They proved us wrong and surprised and delighted us with Moonlight Amnesia. With their first release in years, Helen Stellar delivers four tracks that prove good things are worth the wait.
Bandcamp link
Neil Jung- Infinity Is Whatever (9/22)
What I originally wrote:
Certain things come with the territory when your band is named after a Teenage Fanclub track. On Infinity Is Whatever, the Brooklyn quartet of Evan Brock (Vocals/guitar), Kris Hayes (Lead Guitar), Jeremiah Furr (Bass), and Andrew McDonald (Drums) deliver healthy doses of fuzz and power pop. Like their namesake, the band owes a lot to the early 90s indie pop sound.
The EP was primarily recorded in 2018 before real life (and then the pandemic) got in the way of everything. Five years later, the band is slowly returning to life, and the EP has been taken off the shelf and dusted off.
Opener No Cavities nails that specific early 90s sound and will remind the listener of Pavement at their jangliest. Alright, Okay takes a heavier turn that reminded me of Weezer (YMMV). Washing Machine sounds more like standard-issue Malkmus but never gets close enough to be derivative. Waster evokes the earlier days of college radio right before it morphed into “Alternative.”
I’ve written before about how Teenage Fanclub took almost 3 decades to grow on me. With its bright chords and sunny melodies, Infinity Is Whatever only took a few minutes.
Bandcamp link
Blues Lawyer- Sight Gags on the Radio (9/29)
Blues Lawyer kicked the year off with their fantastic All In Good Time LP, and bookended it with the equally great Sight Gags on the Radio. The band recorded this just before heading off to Europe for a tour. Far from sounding like a throwaway project as they headed out the door, this EP feels like it builds on the momentum of All In Good Time, and shows the band in fighting form.
What I originally wrote:
Pressed for time—both because of the tour and Schrock’s impending move up I-5 to Portland—the four tracks were recorded in just one afternoon in the band’s rehearsal space. Miller did double duty, covering the bass parts as regular bassist Alejandra Alcala was unable to make the session.
That said, this doesn’t have the feel of something dashed off as the band headed out the door for the airport, though. Where All In Good Time saw the band embracing jangle pop, here they go all in on a fuzzier sound they’d only hinted at earlier. The first track, “Have Nots,” is a driving bit of pop perfection and a killer opener.
The rest of the EP is just as strong. “True Love’s Only Name” might be the song stylistically closest to All Good Things In Time, but it also shows the band’s progress as songwriters—and collaborators, with all 3 band members contributing. Matthews wrote the music, Miller wrote the lyrics, and Schrock sang them.
Bandcamp link
And that’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed the end-of-year lists and found a new favorite or two.
Miss one? No problem! I’ve got you covered:
Records of the Year Part 1
Records of the Year Part 2
Records of the Year Part 3 (Honorable mentions)
What’d I miss? Have something that should be on this list (or any of them)? Let me know in the comments!
On a related note: This year, I again committed to reviewing 100 new (to me) records. I actually wound up coming in just over that number, and some of my favorites were reader recommendations. I’ll be doing that again in 2024, so please keep them coming!
Thanks for being here,
Kevin—
P.S. Deadline extended: Don’t forget to vote in our Reader’s Choice Poll!
How did the EP survey go? Did you share the results and I missed them? I know my favorite EPs didn't make your list, so here's mine:
1. The Three Clubmen (Andy Partridge new project)
2. Dazy- Otherbody
3. Mickey Dolenz - Dolenz Sings REM
I can't remember if those were the ones I put in your questionnaire...:)
Thanks for this installment and the entire series of end-of-year lists! I've been thoroughly enjoying them as I work through them this week.
I'm glad someone else enjoyed Inner Richmond. Glenn Donaldson's instrumentals really resonate with me, and I enjoyed the full album of instrumentals he put out at the tail end of 2022 too.
https://theredspinksandpurples.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-lake-park
How did I miss the Blues Lawyer EP???