Greg’s Top 5 EP’s of 2011

5. Wavves – Life Sux

It was quite the year for Nathan Williams highlighted by his hilarious twitter stream of his group’s antics at the MTV Music Awards.  What more can you say about Wavves other than that they just absolutely rock?  This EP spans singing about Dave Grohl, a song featuring his girlfriend Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast: “Nodding Off”, to some punk rock with the members Fucked Up, the perfectly named “Destroy.”

4. Dom – Family of Love

This EP features one of my favorite songs of the entire year in Damn.  Dom are a self proclaimed “EP band”, but as long as everything continues to be as great as this album and their previous, Sun Bronzed Greek Gods, I’ll never be disappointed.

3. Surfer Blood – Tarot Classics

This EP picks up right where Astrocoast left off, and that’s a very good thing.  Beachy pop music is a favorite of mine, and Surfer Blood do it to perfection.  My only complaint is that they couldn’t have put 6 songs on it instead of 4.  Be sure to listen to “I’m Not Ready.”  Hopefully a new full length is to come in 2012.

2. Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out

While Chaz Bundick’s second full length LP, Underneath the Pine, was released in early 2011 and seemed to go more jazzy than his more DJ-ish sound on Causers of This, this EP shows Chaz still can drop that beat.  I actually liked this EP more than the full length.  It’s straight-up fun weekend music.

1. Beach Fossils – What a Pleasure

Beach Fossils play dream pop perfection on this EP.  Almost a full length at 8 songs, it listens like an LP, and this would have made my Top 10 albums of the year had we not separated the EPs out.  “What a Pleasure,” “Fall Right In,” and “Out in the Way” are brilliant songs and three of my favorite of the year.  Put on a good pair of headphones, listen to this EP, and relax, because life is good.

Written by Greg Dahman