LADY GAGA- THE FAME MONSTER EP
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Released by our best modern pop star (with Beyonce as the queen of R&B) as both a standalone and a companion piece to 2008’s “The Fame”. “Bad Romance” is one of the singles of the year and there should be more to follow in its wake.
Buy “Bad Romance”
Buy “So Happy I Could Die”
BON IVER- BLOOD BANK EP
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Justin Vernon’s second beautiful, stark, wintry collection of songs released in the dead of January including 4th track and closer “Woods” which is sung exclusively in auto-tune and covered (very well) by Vernon’s other band Volcano Choir.
Buy “Blood Bank”
Buy “Babys”
MODEST MOUSE- NO ONE’S FIRST AND YOU’RE NEXT
Buy AmazonNo One’s First, and You’re Next
A collection of outtakes and b-sides from Modest Mouse’s last album “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank” which were all re-recorded for this EP. For the most part not the band’s best material but still well worth a listen.
Buy “The Whale Song”
Buy “Satellite Skin”
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE- THE OPEN DOOR EP
Buy AmazonThe Open Door EP
A stop-gap EP between albums which includes a demo version of “Talking Bird” from the “Narrow Stairs” album as well as the track “Little Bribes” which would have been one of the best songs on the album had it been included.
Buy “Little Bribes”
Buy “A Diamond and A Tether”
BLITZEN TRAPPER- THE BLACK RIVER KILLER EP
Buy AmazonBlack River Killer
Seven track companion piece to last year’s excellent full length “Furr”. The title track is from “Furr” and the additional six tracks are very worthy b-sides.
Buy “Black River Killer”
Buy “Silver Moon”
** Surely the Animal Collective “Fall Behind” would have made this list if the damn thing wasn’t still on back order