Category: EP

The Holydrug Couple – Ancient Land EP

We’ve covered a handful of releases from the Sacred Bones camp recently, and here’s one more you can add to the list. Hailing from Chile, the HOLYDRUG COUPLE just released their debut EP in the new year, and this is just more proof that there’s plenty to obsess over from the mysterious Chilean underground. Continue reading “The Holydrug Couple – Ancient Land EP” →

Estrogen Highs – Cycles EP

ESTROGEN HIGHS are from Connecticut. This is their first release of the new year, coming from the Safety Meeting Records imprint in a limited edition of just 300. But you must proceed with caution here, because just calling these guys “catchy” might be an understatement. Continue reading “Estrogen Highs – Cycles EP” →

Top 10 EP’s of 2010

We started with 7″ records – now we’re going to focus on EP’s. Right below are the top ten EP’s that came out over the year of 2010, as told by the Styrofoam Drone. We didn’t cover EP’s nearly as often as we covered other formats of music this year, but there were still enough so we could make this fairly decent list out of them. Not only that, but compiling these lists is a great way to look back on an entire year of music and see what caught on the most, what you forgot about, and simply what you liked best. After over a year of checking out new music, you tend to forget about some things in the middle of all the madness. The end of the year is the time to let those releases you forgot about shine. So here you have it, our top ten EP’s of 2010:

________________________________________________

A good place to start would be the list of Honorable Mentions. While the EP’s included on this were still highlights from the year, they didn’t quite register like the rest of the EP’s below in the countdown. Here goes nothing:

– Son of Rams – Frolics in the Pink EP
– Girls Names – Don’t Let Me In EP
– Monster Rally – s/t EP
– Ghost Mall – Goons EP
– Kurt Vile – Square Shells EP
– Weed – DC Hope EP

________________________________________________

10.)
Top Surprise – Everything Must Go EP
Label: Pug Records
Track 3:
Top Surprise hail from Brazil, and they don’t beat around the bush. Alarmingly loud and possibly headache inducing, these songs sound as concentrated as can be. Not too sure what can expect from 2011, but there’s bound to be something.

—

09.)
The Samps – The Samps EP
Label: Mexican Summer
Track 2:
This one-off project (?) from the sometimes-guitarist of Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti totally came out of nowhere this year and forced you to get up and dance – no matter how much they insisted they had no idea what they were doing. The only question is whether or not we’re gonna hear more of these hazy acid-induced dance beats come 2011.

—

08.)
Banned Books – Man Maker EP
Label: Stumparumper
Track 4:
These fast paced freak rockers from South Jersey can go from ridiculousness to subtlety in less than three seconds. Totally dynamic and definitely jaw dropping, this frenzy of songs comes off as aggressive and rigid as possible.

—

07.)
Tammar – I Live Here Now EP
Label: St. Ives
Track 3:
These wobble-pop pioneers do their own unique thing out in the middle of the country in Indiana, and nobody else seems to take on their sort of experimental pop. They seem to keep quiet for the most part, but we’re still looking forward to some new material come 2011. This was also the only live EP we covered all year.

—

06.)
Javelin – 2 EP
Label: Thrill Jockey
Track 3:
A great year for Javelin it was. This cousinly duo released a full length on Luaka Bop and had a few EP’s released on Thrill Jockey (one which came out in 2009). This cut comes from the 2nd of their two EP’s, and it’s a scary-good kind of “in-the-club” collage that’s so rad that only Javelin could possibly achieve. The name of the track is spot-on well: Beyondcé.

—

05.)
Superhumanoids – Urgency EP
Label: Hit City USA
Track 1:
Later entries can certainly qualify for greatness. We covered this EP like seven days ago but it deserves a spot on this list without a doubt. Carefully constructed and focused pop songs straddling the line of electronics and instrumentation with a blissful, mysterious atmosphere means this stuff is tops. These guys appear to be in the works for something to come in 2011, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.

—

04.)
Games – That We Can Play EP
Label: Hippos in Tanks
Track 1:
“Strawberry Skies” on it’s own is enough send you through a loop – once it gets a firm grasp on your ears, it’s never letting go. Add in a bunch of other great futuristic dance-gems like “Shawdows in Bloom” and “Planet Party” (not to mention those killer remixes) and you’ve easily got one of our favorite EP’s of 2010.

—

03.)
DOOMSTAR! – Rainbow Bloodsucker EP
Label: Grandma and Grandpa Records
Track 4:
DOOMSTAR! are also part of that ever-expanding scene that is growing in Boston as we speak. These guys totally rock out with no boundaries whatsoever, and here is the ultimate proof. You see!? Do yourself a huge favor and keep an eye out for DOOMSTAR! in 2011. It’s still early on for these three guys, but they should definitely not be forgotten.

—

02.)
Double Dagger – Masks EP
Label: Thrill Jockey
Track 1:
This is exactly why we do the end of the year lists. Angry and pissed off, this Double Dagger EP came out awhile ago in the beginning of 2010, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be included on our list. Nolen Strals is trying to make a statement, and him and Double Dagger get their point across with more anger and frustration than any other band out there. You can feel the strain in the music and in Strals vocals from beginning to end. A near 20 minutes of angry post-punk perfection. “Sleeping With the TV On” could be one of the most thrilling and most dynamic songs from any like-minded band this year.

—

01.)
Twin Sister – Color Your Life EP
Label: Infinite Best Recordings
Track 6:
Twin Sister released their second EP this year, and subsequently blew up across the music universe. No other record that came out this year has the same dazed-out, dream like textures that are found from beginning to end on this splendid EP. This group of friendly Long Islanders have dug up quite a unique sound, making these guys without a doubt one of our most watched acts going into 2011. It’s not clear yet what Twin Sister will have in store for us, but if it’s anything like this wild adventure through Andrea Estella’s wacky dream-scapes, it’s bound to be killer.

________________________________________________

That does it for our list of EP’s. Check back in another couple days and we’ll have a list of our favorite full length albums from 2010. See ya then.

Son of Rams – Frolics in the Pink EP

Over the Summer we heard some music from a new band called Family Trees, who released their debut 7″ from Father/ Daughter Records. At almost the same point in time, Family Trees member Joseph Pruitt made his way through the blogosphere with his side band SON OF RAMS. Back then he was spreading the word about his untitled full length album, and now he’s back again with some more for us this November. It’s an eight song EP called “Frolics in the Pink”, and now I’d like to bring those eight songs to your attention.

Starting off the EP is a song called “Triple Eyed”, and it’s easily the first highlight to reveal itself from this collection of tracks. This song would have fit in perfectly with the untitled album from back in the Summer due to it’s stunning lead guitar work and dizzying atmosphere. Pruitt brings his shrieking, whiny vocals back to the table once again to give the songs a frantic and frenzied energy. It’s not only his vocals though that gives the songs their hectic qualities. A good portion of it also comes from his mind-bending guitar work and the fast paced action of the songs.

For example, in the track “I Feel as the Zion” – quick, concentrated guitar hooks dominate as Pruitt wails along behind them, giving the song a completely wild and deranged approach. Then there’s “Change Now Stop”, which follows a similar path. Shimmying guitars and quick vocal outbursts from Pruitt only further prove that these songs will never settle down. There’s always power pulsing through the guitars, whether it’s simple chords or a ridiculous solo (see the ending of “A Blond Temple”), but either way this stuff is sure to please. If quick, fiery guitars paired with whiny, boyish vocals tickles your fancy, then you’re certainly in luck. And don’t forget to check out the Son of Rams site for some free download action. See ya tomorrow.

Triple Eyed –

Boost Up –

I Feel as the Zion –

Change Now Stop –

My Rating: 7.2/10
Genre/ Tags: Psychedelic, Rock, Lo-Fi
Frolics in the Pink EP: Tracklist:
1.) Triple Eyed
2.) Boost Up
3.) Staring Up at a Chinese Kite
4.) Frolics in the Pink
5.) I Feel as the Zion
6.) Face to Face
7.) Change Now Stop
8.) A Blond Temple

DOWNLOAD the new EP and the Untitled LP w/ this link
Son of Rams – Untitled LP previously posted on the Drone
Check out Pruitt’s other band, Family Trees
Son of Rams on Last.fm

No Age – Glitter 12″

So as most of you may already know, noise-rocking heavyweights NO AGE are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their next full-length album (which is due to be released on September 28th by none other than Sub Pop records). To get everyone ready for the LP, Sub Pop did us the favor of putting out two brand new releases by No Age (one is a 7″ – the other is a 12″), each featuring the album song “Glitter”, and then each containing their own unique non-album B-sides. The 12″ has the B-sides “In Rebound” and “Vision II”, while the 7″ includes one B-side called “Inflorescence”. Pretty cool, right?

By now, I’m sure you already know the deal here. No Age is a duo consisting of Dean Spunt and Randy Randall, and they tend to play these noisy, rambunctious, punk rock songs – sometimes with a bit of added ambiance or possibly with a pinch of infectious pop (and usually played best at loud volumes). You could honestly use any single one of those words to describe the music from the new 12″, because they really do cover every last sound mentioned – they just do it all with that familiar No Age sound. Which would most likely mean lots of unintelligible noises and clamorous textures.

“In Rebound” sort of falls a bit more towards the poppy side of things with the shredded guitars, while “Glitter” takes on a much more noisy, metallic sound dominated by wrenching guitar sounds that may or may not give the listener a slight headache if they listened for too long. Then last but not least we’ve got “Vision II”, which would more or less fall into the ambient side of things. Singer/ drummer Dean Spunt’s vocals get lost in the murky, intoxicating textures, and before long you hear some effects that actually reminded me of bubble wrap being popped relentlessly, or a bunch of fireworks going off nearby. I’ll let you decide. Check out the songs below.

PS – You can download the song “Glitter”, courtesy of Sub Pop (just right click, and hit ‘save link as’)

Glitter –

In Rebound –

Vision II –

My Rating: 7.5/10
Genre/ Tags: Noise Rock, Experimental, Punk, Ambient
Glitter 12″: Tracklist:
1.) Glitter
2.) In Rebound
3.) Vision II

BUY the 12″ directly from Insound
No Age on Myspace
No Age on Blogspot
More info. on their upcoming LP right here @ Sub Pop

DOOMSTAR! – Rainbow Bloodsucker EP

Yo dudes. I’m SUPER stoked on this band we have here today. I hope most of you are unaware of these guys, because when you give it your first listen, chances are your ass will be sent straight to the floor. If only I could see your reactions upon first hearing. Too bad that’s not going to happen. All I know is that I was totally into this stuff right from the start. My first intentions were to buy absolutely everything they had for sale, which only turns out to be a brand new cassette tape single, but that’s enough, right???. If these guys keep doing what they’re doing, I’m sure they’ll have PLENTY of more releases for us somewhere down the road. Of course, I am speaking of Cambridge, Massachusetts own DOOMSTAR! (capitalization and exclamation necessary).

It would seem as though DOOMSTAR! has been hard at work for the year of 2010. Their EP that we have here today came out just this past February, and they just put out this cassette tape in July. So with this EP, you’ll probably figure out pretty quickly that this band is far from shy. They don’t beat around the bush or anything like that. Nothing too pretty or too fancy, no glam, no chillwave – just straight up IN YR FACE gritty guitar-driven psych-rock jam outs with a bit of the moody, punk flare mixed in for good measure. But they’re not always pummeling you full-throttle – parts of the song “Sharon Mitchel” get a bit quieter than the rest, but certainly not for too long before they’re back to destroy you some more. Other songs like “Gimmee Some” and “Handsome Man” tend to lean a little more to the pop side of things, but they still don’t forget to bring along that staggering guitar sound for the ride. Then there’s songs like “Rainbow Bloodsucker” and “You Can Hide”, which serve no other purpose than to make your jaw drop straight to the floor. For a good portion of the song (Rainbow Bloodsucker), the same two guitar chords go through a hell of a beat down, getting absolutely crushed by epic guitar solos and relentless, crashing drums. This was the first song I heard from the EP, and it was a HELL of a way to be introduced to this band.

Do you understand why I’m so stoked on these guys now? Hopefully you do. If not, listen to these songs below to help add a little excitement to your day. Let’s help spread the DOOMSTAR! name, because these guys deserve to be heard.

Handsome Man –

Rainbow Bloodsucker –

You Can Hide –

My Rating: 8.5/10
Genre/ Tags: Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Punk
Rainbow Bloodsucker EP: Tracklist:
1.) Handsome Man
2.) Kitty Kitty
3.) Lily Face
4.) Rainbow Bloodsucker
5.) Sharon Mitchel
6.) Gimmee Some
7.) Ronald Ray-Gun
8.) You Can Hide

BUY DOOMSTAR! releases directly from their Bandcamp page
DOOMSTAR! on Myspace
DOOMSTAR! on Muxtape

Weed – DC Hope EP

I was surfing around the web yesterday to find something new to post up, and I came across something that’s slightly different from everything else we’ve been listening to lately. It came from one of my favorite blogs Shoegazer Alive, and I think what originally caught my eye was that retro looking artwork you can see to the left, not to mention the name of the band – WEED. Yeah, Weed, but you could also call him Willy “Flip” Anderson, who happens to be main man behind the music. This is his first official release, and also the first release from the label putting it out, Moongadget.

Mr. Anderson creates these severely bent, lo-fi “bedrock” jams that are increasingly fuzzy and mangled, and each one brings you to a place on a hazy Summer afternoon where there wasn’t much else to do but hang out in your bedroom and make some music. Parts of the songs sound electronic, while other parts sound more instrumental, but either way there are definitely some nods to the chillwave sound (like the trippy track “Run to Cranes”) that’s been storming the web. While this stuff does chillwave justice, I still hope in the long run that the fad is starting to die down a bit, because it’s beginning to show up everywhere. Like my G-mail inbox.

I have two songs to share with you guys from the EP – the loose, easy going, bass-bumping jam “W.G.A.” and the twisted, gritty lo-fi madness of “Might as Well” which has enough fuzz to make your head explode, but at the same time it’s bound to make you smile. One last thing: this stuff WILL grow on you. But that’s all for today! Lots of new stuff coming in lately…stay tuned…

Might as Well –

W.G.A. –

My Rating: 8/10
Genre/ Tags: Lo-Fi, Electronic, Psychedelic
DC Hope EP: Tracklist:
1.) Quilt
2.) Might as Well
3.) Cody Girl
4.) Run to Cranes
5.) W.G.A.

Weed on Myspace
BUY the EP on cassette – a limited edition of 50!
Weed – Moongadget Artist Page