SAN CISCO-Awkward (EP)
You wanna know what’s Awkward? Only the most exciting EP I’ve heard this year.
Yeah, it’s only February and they’re using a lot of the Arctic Monkeys’ act, but that’s okay—the Monkeys aren’t really using it themselves anymore, having transformed into a tepid, mainstream band.
The single is the title track, and you can pinch it below, but the big treasure on this EP is “Rocket Ship,” which you can watch below.
LEIF(kolt) & Dusty Nix-Nothing for the Vultures (EP)
This one is just weird. It’s gritty electronica hip hop with rapper LEIF(kolt) who tends to spit, growl and hiss more than rap, and San Diego producer Dusty Nix.
Get the EP as a digital download here.
Here’s a vid of the best cut off the EP.
OCEAN CITY DEFENDER-The Golden Hour (EP)
Ocean City Defender is distributing their new EP on Bandcamp at the “Name Your Price” rate (which includes, of course, zero bucks). If there was a category of music called “indie 1980s,” it would fit. The mellow waves flow like Simple Minds, New Order (but smoother), Yaz, etc.
Good stuff!
BABYFACE MONSTER-Cadillac Brougham Joints (EP)
Rich Daley, a.k.a. Babyface Monster, wants you to have his FreEp. He’s a Chi-town lyricist with a silky flow and lyrics that range from Cool J shmoove to street stories, all told with humor. The whole album feels very person. Really solid stuff.
Get it here.
https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1458086&Babyface Monster – Cadillac Brougham Joints by bfmbangerz
THE GRANVILLE SESSIONS-No State (EP)
Here’s how this band reached out to me: “My name is Aaron and I’m in a live Hip Hop band from London, England.”
When I see “hip hop” and “England” in the same sentence, my first instinct to to head for zee hills. But this one’s good. Real good.
Check out the vid for “Pubsteppin,” below. That’s British for barhopping. And if you like it, the album is just six pounds on Bandcamp I don’t know what is in dollars, but I’m pretty sure it’s about six.
We also recently dropped an album (free link below):
RADIO BARONS-Teardrops (EP)
Brooklyn’s Radio Barons. These dudes owe debt to The Clash, but there’s no dishonor in that–there are many far worse bands to crib from. Check ‘em out.
Get it free here.
YYOU-OTF (EP)
There are rappers who you listen to because they have tight lyrics, and paint pictures you’ve never seen before–they may be dressing up standard ideas (boy loves girl; “I’m great and rich;” getting high; etc.), but they talk about them in a new way. And then there are rappers who make your head bob and nod, and make you want to dance and move and shout along. And then there’s the beat: Some rap lyricists may suck, but they’ve got tremendous hooks (I’m thinking of Dr. Dre here).
And there’s the rare rapper who can do all of the above.
Readers, I give you Yyou, an independent HipHop artist from Victoria BC, Canada, who wants you to hear his new album OTF so bad, he’s giving it away. Go get it, and make sure you listen to “Take Me Home Tonight” (produced By Jonathan Lee),” which takes the familiar Eddie Money hook and turns it into a monster.
Get it here.
BEL AIR-Fall (EP)
I’m happy to devote my first review of 2012 to the band Bel Air. It would be easy to dismiss them as another Bandcamp band, but they’re not like all the rest. The songs are written with care and attention to detail, and the music backs the vocals with delicate accents and emphasis. Allison Langerak’s voice on “Dark Days,” the lead cut off this EP, has traces of the Americana-twinged longing you might hear in Margo Simmons’ work with The Cowboy Junkies. But then, in “The Long Fall,” Jeff Mensch takes the mike for a song that could hold its own against some of Wilco’s more traditional songs.
You can stream/buy Fall via Bandcamp, where you’ll also find EPs for the other seasons of 2011. It’s worth your time.
Plus, they’re from Brooklyn!
Stream “Dark Days” below.
http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=3253167654/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/
here!TOP 10 INDIE EPs and SINGLES OF 2011
Here’s my list. Let’s do this.
10. SCOUT-Pi
A sweet, simple EP.
9. SELF SCIENTIFIC-Trials of the Blackhearted
An EP with Big K.R.I.T., Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Game….And the shit’s free?!?
8. MOTHA FOLKIN’ SOUL-Self Titled.
Hilarious, rated X, irreverent, catchy and well-written. Awesome debut. Here’s the review.
7. GRYNCH-Timeless EP
“All I Wanna Do” is as good as “My Volvo.” Word.
Get it here, free.
6. KREAYSHAWN-Gucci Gucci
Pretty much as soon as this dropped, this Brooklyn chick got picked up by the Majors. Let’s hope she’s got more in her than one song, a la Fannypack’s “Cameltoe.”
