Into the Top Ten now with our shorter form release countdown. We’re talking EP’s, 7″, 10″ style releases here that aren’t quite albums, and there were plenty of great ones this year. Once again you’ll find streams for each of the releases. Idea of these countdowns is not only to showcase our favourites, but to also hopefully have you find a new discovery or two that you may have missed throughout the year. We’ve also added a basic description for the top ten selections. So expand this post and check out who we ranked between #6 and #10 this year. See you tomorrow at midday for the top 5.
#6. MARA THREAT – ROMANTIC THINGS [INDEPENDENT]
I think it was the spreading around of links of her ukulele covers of Descendents and H2O on YouTube where I first heard the unique bright voice Mara has. Thankfully it didn’t take long until this EP became available with some proper quality recordings, and original tunes. While a lot of the solo folky stuff these days focuses on the sad stuff, with Mara’s voice it’s hard to not just grin and embrace the positive side. This is a real ‘headphones’ release, pick a spot, plug in and just enjoy. There are folky songs and there are pure pop numbers. The show stealer for me comes in the form of ‘Protest Song’, up there are as one of my fave tracks of the year. It’s a great EP all round, and I definitely look forward to more in the future.
ADD ‘ROMANTIC THINGS’ TO YOUR COLLECTION:
[Buy Digital (Bandcamp)]
#7. LUCERO – TEXAS AND TENNESSEE [INDEPENDENT]
As part of their 15 year anniversary, Lucero released this stripped back affair, saying it was like a trip back to the very early days of the band sound wise as they were recording the track. A bit less get up and go than last year’s full length, still, whatever this band touches shines, and this is no different, still very Lucero in sound, and a good little gap filler to whatever they have planned next. All four tracks are the goods on this one.
ADD ‘TEXAS AND TENNESSEE’ TO YOUR COLLECTION:
[Buy CD (Lucero Store)]
[Buy Digital (iTunes)]
#8. LUCY WILSON – FULL TO THE BRIM [JACKKNIFE]
Lucy has a voice that will stop you right in your tracks, it has been captured just right in this recording that really comes alive on vinyl if you have a good setup. All four tracks on here command repeat listening, after a couple of spins you won’t be forgetting it any time soon. Even your grandma will love it… until the cunt part anyway… It’s a very ‘as is’ type sound, not much studio trickery going on, nor is it required, turn away from the speakers and you’ll feel like she’s right there over your shoulder in a non creepy way, just how this style should sound. There’s only 250 of these floating around physically, make one of them yours.
ADD ‘FULL TO THE BRIM’ TO YOUR COLLECTION:
[Buy Vinyl or Digital (Bandcamp)]
#9. WIL WAGNER – LAIKA [POISON CITY RECORDS]
This one with 8 tracks could probably sit in either the short or full category, but I’m calling it not quite full, so EP it is for this countdown anyway. The Smith Street Band frontman serves up a variety of tracks with this one, from the tearjerker ‘Laika’, to the powerful ‘Malt Memories’ and ‘Eviction Notices’. Highlight for mine is ‘More Like Signals Midbest’. The songs are in a similar vein as the full band stuff, so if you like that, chances are high you’ll like this, its just stripped back and a little more raw. Just right to keep things flowing and a little different in between band tours and releases. If you can pump out the quality tunes as often as Wil can… why not do it?
ADD ‘LAIKA’ TO YOUR COLLECTION:
[Buy CD & Vinyl (Poison City)]
[Buy CD & Vinyl (JB Hi-Fi)]
[Buy Digital (iTunes)]
[Buy Digital (Bandcamp)]
#10. FOURTEEN NIGHTS AT SEA – GREAT NORTH [HOBBLEDEHOY]
While these six tracks may last longer than most full length albums, I’m filing this one in the EP category. Beautifully produced instrumental music that makes for a perfect soundtrack when you need something a little less in your face. It’s not simple by any means, and you’ll hardly get bored for the lack of a vocal. Follow the sounds and create your own interpretations of what to make of it. Not an easy task to create this style of music and keep it really interesting. Won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but give it a run if didn’t upon release, have a go, you might be surprised.
ADD ‘GREAT NORTH’ TO YOUR COLLECTION:
[Buy CD, Vinyl or Digital (Hobbledehoy Records)]
[Buy Digital (iTunes)]
From earlier, #11 – #15 [Listen to these releases Here]
#11. NATHAN SEECKTS – OCEANS OF WOMEN AND WINE [INDEPENDENT]
#12. THE WEEDS – ROOTS / ROUTES [CAT SKULL]
#13. JEN BUXTON – DESPERATION DEMOS [MIDNIGHT FUNERAL]
#14. DAN CRIBB – THE MEMORIES LAST [PEE RECORDS]
#15. DEEP HEAT – NEW DESIGN [POISON CITY RECORDS]
From earlier, #16 – #20 [Listen to these releases Here]
#16. TWIN FORKS – EP [DINE ALONE RECORDS]
#17. STEPHANIE GRACE – GREEN CARDIGAN [INDEPENDENT]
#18. FEAR LIKE US – STREET VIPERS [POISON CITY RECORDS]
#19. RELEASE THE HOUNDS – THIS TOWN [INDEPENDENT]
#20. HAVE/HOLD – SONG FOR BILL OF THE TRAINS / DEXAMPHETAMINE BLUES [MIDNIGHT FUNERAL]
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Follow the countdown for the full length releases of the year [Here].
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