The E.P. Roundup
I've got a bunch of EPs sitting here in my listening queue, and I figured it'd be best to just get them all out in one. Without further ado:
In anticipation of their Oct. 5 full-length album debut (to be available on Topshelf Records), this Boston quintet slid out this 3-track sampler which encompasses three of my four favourite Baker tunes (missing is 'Gotta Get Out of This City).
The production value is top notch, as I expect nothing left from these musical geniuses/perfectionists, and foreshadows a strong, well packaged, and, I dare say "Freakin' Awesome" debut.The highlight of the EP is "Fingers," which also is the source of their first music video (available on their Myspace page and, I would assume, will be part of the interactive content on the CD).
This was found on iTunes shortly after the internets gave up their bounty and showed me the beauty and talent that is A Fine Frenzy (which is really Allison Sudol, using the "Five For Fighting" Artist naming scheme).
The EP pulls the radio-friendly, hyper-catchy "Rangers," the heart-wrenching "Almost Lovers," and low-key, non-album track "The Well" and showcases what the debut album "One Cell in the Sea" is all about: beautiful, at points, ethereal, piano-driven indie-pop tunes.
The album has since released and will be featured more prominently when I get off my posterior.
I know very little about this group, except that 1) they are Boston-based and 2) their vocals are handled by a pair of ladies.
While at Harpers Ferry for a Baker concert, I noticed free CDs. Being one to never look gift music in the mouth, I grabbed it, and then sat on it for a month or two.
After popping it in iTunes, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found: a dark, somewhat minimalist group, using just enough to convey the song and rebelling against the new standard of "wall of sound," for the most part.
The two stars of the EP are "Get On, get Going" and a surprisingly good, different take on the Beatles' "Happiness is a Warm Gun."
I've been, as of yet, unable to find any additional information about these gals, but with fall approaching, I'm hoping some news will surface.
How excited was I to find this in iTunes late last year?
Ms. Pauley is another Boston native I discovered one fall night at the Paradise Lounge. I was there to see Jim Boggia, but placards for her then-upcoming concert were all over the place. Intrigued, I grabbed one and later found her to be amazing.
The 7-track EP has 6 studio tracks, and one live version ("Stronger"). I'm not certain how many of these tunes will be appearing on her upcoming release, "Elijah Drop Your Gun," but any fan of the woman-and-her-guitar format will, most assuredly, love every track. The highlights are "Run" and "Invincible".
Matt Nathanson (here-to-fore known as Matty Nate) is one of my all-time live-performance artists. His stange presence is warm, inviting, and manages to make you feel like it's just an audience of one, even in a sea of a thousand.
The three tracks which comprise this EP were bundled with Matty Nate's recent release "Some Mad Hope." The tracks offer a sample of tunes off of 'Hope' in an all-acoustic, all-Matty-Nate form. Of the three, "Detroit Waves," is my favourite as it does the best job of showing Nathanson in his quiet singing voice as well as his from-his-toes, strong-emotion wail.
Baker: Three Songs (EP)
In anticipation of their Oct. 5 full-length album debut (to be available on Topshelf Records), this Boston quintet slid out this 3-track sampler which encompasses three of my four favourite Baker tunes (missing is 'Gotta Get Out of This City).
The production value is top notch, as I expect nothing left from these musical geniuses/perfectionists, and foreshadows a strong, well packaged, and, I dare say "Freakin' Awesome" debut.The highlight of the EP is "Fingers," which also is the source of their first music video (available on their Myspace page and, I would assume, will be part of the interactive content on the CD).
- Photos from Baker @ the Paradise Lounge, 2007-08-24
- Pre-Order Bike Ride
- My review of the 'Happy Birthday' EP
A Fine Frenzy: Demo (EP)
This was found on iTunes shortly after the internets gave up their bounty and showed me the beauty and talent that is A Fine Frenzy (which is really Allison Sudol, using the "Five For Fighting" Artist naming scheme).
The EP pulls the radio-friendly, hyper-catchy "Rangers," the heart-wrenching "Almost Lovers," and low-key, non-album track "The Well" and showcases what the debut album "One Cell in the Sea" is all about: beautiful, at points, ethereal, piano-driven indie-pop tunes.
The album has since released and will be featured more prominently when I get off my posterior.
Lucius: Lucius (EP)
I know very little about this group, except that 1) they are Boston-based and 2) their vocals are handled by a pair of ladies.
While at Harpers Ferry for a Baker concert, I noticed free CDs. Being one to never look gift music in the mouth, I grabbed it, and then sat on it for a month or two.
After popping it in iTunes, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found: a dark, somewhat minimalist group, using just enough to convey the song and rebelling against the new standard of "wall of sound," for the most part.
The two stars of the EP are "Get On, get Going" and a surprisingly good, different take on the Beatles' "Happiness is a Warm Gun."
I've been, as of yet, unable to find any additional information about these gals, but with fall approaching, I'm hoping some news will surface.
Mieka Pauley: Mieka Pauley (EP)
How excited was I to find this in iTunes late last year?
Ms. Pauley is another Boston native I discovered one fall night at the Paradise Lounge. I was there to see Jim Boggia, but placards for her then-upcoming concert were all over the place. Intrigued, I grabbed one and later found her to be amazing.
The 7-track EP has 6 studio tracks, and one live version ("Stronger"). I'm not certain how many of these tunes will be appearing on her upcoming release, "Elijah Drop Your Gun," but any fan of the woman-and-her-guitar format will, most assuredly, love every track. The highlights are "Run" and "Invincible".
Matt Nathanson: Slow, But Speeding (EP)
Matt Nathanson (here-to-fore known as Matty Nate) is one of my all-time live-performance artists. His stange presence is warm, inviting, and manages to make you feel like it's just an audience of one, even in a sea of a thousand.
The three tracks which comprise this EP were bundled with Matty Nate's recent release "Some Mad Hope." The tracks offer a sample of tunes off of 'Hope' in an all-acoustic, all-Matty-Nate form. Of the three, "Detroit Waves," is my favourite as it does the best job of showing Nathanson in his quiet singing voice as well as his from-his-toes, strong-emotion wail.
posted by askani97 at 11:15 AM
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