#1 Zola Jesus - Velusia
Sacred Bones Recordings
Both of Zola Jesus's EPs this year were amazing. The second one that came out in fall was really mind-blowing. The song "The Tower" is her most epic song to date. Reminds me of the parts of The Cure's Disintegration that really blow your mind, not the radio songs. This is what goth music should sound like.
#2 Real Estate - Reality
Mexican Summer Records
As with the Out of Tune 7" this EP is pure summer. When it came out way back in January I already suspected it to be a major summer play. And lo and behold I ended up picking this bad boy on cassette for the sole purpose of rocking it in the park. Summer rules my face.
#3 Sun Araw - Off Duty
Woodist Records
Fuck I love Sun Araw. As far as new, up-and-coming , experimental music this dude has been down-right prolific in the past couple of years. The jams are a strange mix of psychedelic, 70's soul, distortion and layered sound collages. So good. This combined with this year's double-LP On Patrol is a quite impressive body of amazing work.
#4 Cloud Nothings - Leave You Forever
True Panther Records
Great lo-fi pop from Cleveland. Super catchy and fun. Kind of reminds me of late 90's pop-punk and emo (I really hated that shit back when it came out, but you know what? Tastes change). Even though I like this EP, I can totally see these guys going mainstream, dropping the lo-fi sound and turning totally shitty and over-produced. But we shall see I guess.
#5 Zola Jesus - Stridulum
Sacred Bones Recordings
The first of Zola Jusus' EPs this year. Really amazing. Seriously, Nika Danilova's voice is one of the best to come along in a while. And she's still very young. These two EPs were released as an album called Stridulum II but I still consider them as they were originally released as separate entities. If they were released as one true album, it would of easily been #2 or #3 on the top albums list.
#6 War On Drugs - Future Weather
Secretly Canadian Records
Kurt Vile's other band. Its really not that far off from Kurt Vile's solo stuff. A little more chilled-out and dreamy. This still has the big Springsteen vibe of his solo stuff though. The song "Brothers" is such a great song too and I really can't get enough of it.
#7 Doom Town - Demo Tape
Self-Released
While this isn't technically an EP, it's still under 30 mins and it fucking rules. Punk rock from St. Louis. Duel female/male vocals, driving riffs, chances for sing-alongs. GREAT STUFF. I can't wait to hear more from this band. Thank you internets for allowing me to stumble across this.
#8 Rival Mob - Hardcore for Hardcore
Six Feet Under Records
BOSTON HARDCORE REPRESENT!!! Sweet fucking youth-crew shit. Seriously bros, Boston hardcore still knows how to throw down. One of the best pure-hardcore releases I've heard in a while.
#9 The Bitters - Have a Nap Hotel
Sacred Bones Recordings
Well Sacred Bones is well represented here. The Bitters are of course from Toronto and play some excellent garage-punk. Female lyrics and Ben from Fucked Up providing the music. One of my favorite garage releases of the year.
#10 Washed Out - Life of Leisure
Mexican Summer Records
Chilled out electronic/dream-pop. Solid four song collection with "New Theory" far and away the best song on the disc.
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