This is good hip hop. And how can I avoid posting a record featuring guys with names like Big Baby Gandhi and Kool Aid?

One of the best parts of running this blog for over ten years has been getting my small readership of about a thousand souls to hear stuff they probably won’t hear anywhere else. That’s one of the main reasons I don’t review RIAA material–they have the resources to reach you through regular commercial means. Smaller artists and independent labels don’t have that power.

And EPs are even smaller: Artists who are trying to get out there, get noticed, and share only the very best of their catalogs. These are the ones I liked the most this year.

I’ll be posting my “best albums” in December.

10.  Tonstartssbandht-Russian Tour Tape

Review and stream here.

9.  Los Waves-Got a Feeling

Review and free songs here.

8. The Dirty Nil-Summer Mixtape 2: Covers

More delicious, dirty, aggravating punk rock. It was good, but you’ll have to take my word for it because the band has already taken it down off Bandcamp. I’m not sure why they do that, but it’s very aggravating.  Review.

7. Ash Reiter-Night Moves (Bob Seger Cover)

I’m not doing a big feature on covers this year, but Ash Reiter’s tremendous voice and soulful take on this Bob Seger classic had to get mentioned.

6. e-dubble-Big Ships/Plan A

A/B singles from one of my favorite indie rappers.

5. Jim Hickey-Railings

Three short songs showcasing an edgier update to the breathy, Al Stewart sounds of the last 1970s.

4. Ike-Bello

This got on my list on the strength of the driving funk of “Your Face Is On” and stays on because of the jammy, classic rock hit feel of Julie July.

3. Mantrakid-Xenochrony

It’s a 30 minute beats/samples record, I’m sure it’s illegal, and it’s fucking Zappa as Hell. Frank would have loved it.

2. Panama-Always

The mixture of electronica and AM radio pop sounds a little like Jim Hickey (above), but Panama’s music has more of an epic feel. Listen to it twice and you’ll want to keep it forever.

1. Misun-Summer Bootlegs

Much of this is remixed from 2012, but since I didn’t even hear of Misun until this year, I’m listing it. They’re amazing.

This is terrific. I love the blend between electronic music and songs that sound like they were written on an acoustic guitar around a campfire.

A hard electropop 1990s sound.

New EP from Mason Jar Music: Decoration Day, Volume 2. Very cool covers of Sly and the Family Stone, The Beatles, and more…Free! Here.

Mission Dorado has a new album out, and the single is a direct-link mpfree: On the Range.

 

Here’s another cool, free album. Nick Blaemire and the Hustle will give it to you for the price of an e-mail address here.

NYC Taper has new shows by The Old ’97s and Yo La Tengo! You absolutely need to check it out!

You need this DAVID BOWIE MASH UP ALBUM, which is free here.

And let’s close with a sampler…