Category: EP reviews

Spring singles, EPs: Yoasobi, Lolas, Red Dwarf Star, Daz & The Demons, Sam Evian, The Armoires

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I’ve been a fan of J-pop (it’s a guilty pleasure), and I’ve enjoyed YOASOBI since I first heard their “Monster” about three years ago in the Netflix Beastars anime. They are poised to break out since their English songs are just as good as the Japanese language versions. “Adventure” is a great example of that sunny J-pop melody loaded with catchy hooks. E-Side-3 is the very latest from this talented artist. Next, the criminally underrated Lolas have been very active lately, and they deserve props for the rich jangling melody, “Work is the Blackmail of Survival.” Red Dwarf Star is something I don’t always feature (psychedelic heavy rock), but I just love this deeply atmospheric track, that reminds me of Pink Floyd and Soundgarden. Daz & The Demons have a great power pop sound, check out “You Wait For Something” and “Barcelona.” Sam Evian‘s new LP is only 9 tracks (so it’s like a big EP), and it embraces a spontaneous spirit; listen to “Wild Days” and my fave here, “Jacket,” with its “la la la” drops. Don’t look now, but The Armoires are back, and they “Absolutely Mean It.” A great advance single – enjoy!




Marching on more EPs and Singles: Kanak, The Second Summer, Round Corners, Nerd Magnet, Tony Low, Big City

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New Jersey band Kanak, produced by the legendary Ed Stasium (The Ramones, Talking Heads, Motörhead) made a good impression – and their new EP is out next week. One of the best EPs I’ve heard is The Second Summer, with each song a winner from their debut undertow. Fans of The Posies and Teenage Fanclub will love this highly recommended EP. Round Corners is Greek artist Elias Papastamatiou with a slick 70s-styled pop on “How Do You Do?” Japanese band Nerd Magnet attracted me to their new single “Take A Walk.” Native New Yorker Tony Low returns with an EP of Covid-inspired songs (that was a while ago, right)? Finally, New York City’s Big City has a terrific alt-rock swagger and cool on “Full Service” a very Thin Lizzy-inspired band.





Top 20 EPs of 2023 and some January gifts

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The 2023 EP list

This year’s top EP list had to grow in several respects. To begin, there has been a marked decline in the release of albums compared to the explosive growth of singles and EPs, and this trend is likely to continue; moreover, the melodies produced by EP performers are often more lively and experimental. BTW, my definition of an EP is an album with 9 songs or less. Most of these have been featured, and a few I just never got around to posting. All are listenable on Bandcamp! Thanks for your patience!

  1. Gizmo “Buddy System”
  2. Half Catholic “Art In Heaven”
  3. The Shang Hi Los “Aces Eights & Heartbreaks”
  4. Råttanson “Trebled Region”
  5. Girl with a Hawk “Keep ‘er Lit”
  6. The Blakes “New Tattoo Outtakes”
  7. House of Jed “House of Jed”
  8. Dazy “Otherbody”
  9. Strange Neighbors “Party of None”
  10. Kid Gulliver “Kiss & Tell”
  11. Einstein’s Sister “Exit Strategies”
  12. Clone “Knock Out Drops Vol. 2”
  13. The Photocopiers – Million Sellers
  14. Jamie Hoover “Top Banana”
  15. Dave Birk “Fool Around”
  16. Julez and The Rollerz “Is There Where The Party Is?”
  17. Andy Bopp “Space Camp”
  18. Ken Kase “Ken Kase”
  19. Peter Hall “About Last Night”
  20. Grand Drifter “Paradise Window” 

As a bonus I have some new freebies! Mostly from 2023 All these albums are “name-your-price” but these are all high quality. I know music fans appreciate this pricing model, and I hope you donate to them so they can continue making great music.






November Singles and EPs: The Dollyrots, Timmy Sean, CLONE, Wild Arrows, KC Bowman, Wyatt Funderburk

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A very big month ahead, we start with The Dollyrots, likely the coolest rock and roll parents, bassist/vocalist/mom Kelly Ogden, and her husband, guitarist/dad Luis Cabezas. They released the Night Owls LP last month, and this cool song, “Hot Mom with the Skinny Pants On,” is likely this decade’s “Stacy’s Mom.” After that, with all the hoopla over the “new” Beatles single, I found someone who covers it better than The Threetles, and that would be Timmy Sean! Next CLONE has it all: Glam guitars and a kick-ass female band. Check out “Queen” on the new EP, Knock Out Drops Vol. II. Next, NYC’s own Wild Arrows has a neat 80s vibe and a strong, catchy group of songs that deserve your attention. Then we get a very cool freebie from KC Bowman (Corner Laughers) and it’s a full album of 16 gems—so much good music I can’t just pick one song to highlight. Finally, in advance of his new LP, producer and songwriter Wyatt Funderburk returns with two singles. “November” is very subtle and light, but the follow-up “You’ll Know” is another gorgeous ballad that Wyatt does so well. More releases, and I’m behind again!




October Singles: Portable Radio, Golden Richards, The Lunar Laugh, The House of Jed, Deer Friends, Super Cassette

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October starts the busiest month, as music floods my inbox and doesn’t let up until Christmas. That’s okay. We start with the bouncy Sunshine pop “I Feel Like A Dog” by Portable Radio taken from the forthcoming LP Counting To Three. Gotta love those harmonies and cascading chords. A missed summer hit, Golden Richards rocks that ice cream truck with “Hey Mr. Softee,” and its power pop perfection. The Lunar Laugh has a new single “Born Weird,” with its cool song structure and a neat psyche-pop break. The House of Jed offers up an EP that deserves some attention, rock funk “Coming Off Pretty” and the danceable “Everybody Lies” are excellent.  Our freebie “Magic Fruit” from Deer Friends has a bit of glam guitar and honey-sweet hooks, it’s a keeper! Finally a sneak peek at Super Cassette‘s new album with the single “Continue?” which feels akin to Dowling Poole! Rich melodies that deserve to be heard!