In an era of music defined by bands that simply release too much material (“hey, we wrote ten songs, let’s record an album! Wait, we wrote 7 more in the studio—let’s make it a double album!”) a great EP is something to be savored.
The soul of brevity is wit, or whatever, and the EP can serve as a perfect document for a particular period of an artist’s career.
It’s a good opportunity to collect a handful of songs that just don’t fit as part of a longer release, or the opening volley of a new band looking to assert its identity (or sometimes a combination of the three).
It’s been a great year for the EP in Portland. Here are my five favorite local EPs that have been released this year.
5. Seance Crasher—Piano Pills
Kevin Rafn is no stranger to the Portland scene. After a stint in Wampire, Rafn emerges with this EP Piano Pills that merges melodies worthy of Pet Sounds with modern indie synth-rock.
Songs like “Commitment” and the title track “Piano Pills” are reminiscent of sophisti-pop bands like Prefab Sprout and The Blue Nile, in terms of literate lyrics meeting immaculate pop production.
http://seancecrasher.bandcamp.com/
4. Golden Hour—Golden Hour
There’s been a lot of excitement around town about the apparent reunion of Sleater-Kinney but, given the milquetoast quality of the creative work that the members of that band accomplished after they broke up, I’m much more interested in a band like Golden Hour
Golden Hour replicates so much of what made bands like Sleater-Kinney and Gossip great, and they still sound raw and vital. Tracks like “Sallie Mae” and “Arm Teenage Girls” off this first release make me so excited to see what this band is capable of in the future.
https://goldenhourband.bandcamp.com/
3. Myke Bogan—Silk Jockstrap EP
It’s no secret that Myke Bogan might just be the hottest MC in the city of roses.
Standing just feet away from Myke during his set at PDX Pop Now last July, I watched as just he and DJ Fatboy (with a cameo by fellow Soar Losers crew member Vinny Dewayne) captivated a crowd of hundreds with a set that ended with Bogan smoking a joint on stage.
Silk Jockstrap is a concise document of an artist at the absolute peak of his powers, with tracks like “SGDB” and “The Anthem” (highlighted by an amazing guest spot by Manny Monday) perfectly walks that thin line between party jam and introspective hip hop classic.
2. Hot 16—1983 EP
DJ Dan Kinto went from one of the founding DJs of Holocene’s Rockbox night series to one of Portland’s most vibrant producers seemingly overnight. The change was solidified when Kinto assumed his current Hot 16 moniker and released this amazing EP.
The EP features indelible contributions from guests ranging from Reva DeVito to Vursatyle of the Lifesavas Collective, and Epp (of TxE fame).
Inspired by ’90s girl groups like TLC and SWV, as well as ’80s R&B (“Turned Away” the best track on this release breathes new life into an old Chukii Booker single) this Liquid Beat Records release is one of the most underrated projects of 2014.
http://liquidbeat.bandcamp.com/album/hot16-1983-ep
1. Your Rival—Your Rival, USA
Anchored by the strength of the incendiary opening track, “Border Patrol,” this EP is simply the best Portland punk release since Guitar Romantic by The Exploding Hearts.
Concise, vibrant and raw: Your Rival, USA has been a constant presence in my life since its release. In a city that has recently come to once again embrace rock with acts like Summer Cannibals and Genders receiving tons of earned media, it’s somewhat puzzling to me that Your Rival, USA hasn’t been similarly embraced by the Portland zeitgeist.
Especially considering the fact that the EP ends with an incredibly clever cover of Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” that seems ripe for re-blogs and retweets.
