January 2, 2015

Favorite Portland EPs from 2014

Oh man, it was another great year for Portland music and already the Willamette Week is promising next year is going to be even better. While I continue to try and whittle down my list of Portland albums, here's my favorite local EPs from the year. I can't claim this is comprehensive or even representative; it's just a mess of EPs I loved, mostly by new and exciting Portland bands that I picked up on BandcampPlease let me know what I missed. I love suggestions.

Sleep School - White Girl Wasted

Fell for the thumping wall of fuzz that kicks off the EP, but the other songs are great too.


Summer Cannibals - Make You Better

Every time I see this band they seem to be getting louder, tighter, and more exciting.


Padre

One of my favorite new bands first heard on the PDX Pop Now! compilation. 

The Century - Oddfellows

Foot stomping, beer splashing, feel good rock n' roll.

We Miss Earth - Destroyed

Beautiful distortion with a knack for JAMC-style hooks.


Big Haunt - Devotionals

Captivated by their dark and meditative indie folk.



woolen men - Quick Trips
One of a couple great no-frills, lo-fi rock n' roll EPs they released this year. Better grab it quick, as they usually disappear.

The Zags - Small Bags
Classic power pop with that late 70s LA punch.


The Beauty - Mash Notes

Gritty call-and-response vocals over a Queen-through-blown-out-speakers beat. 

NTNT - And Then The Moon

Dig the keys and beats on this blissful dance pop that practically bursts with sequins and sunshine.


Family Night - Emperors of America

Sibling pop band delivering their local social commentary with a shimmer and a shake.



pigWar

Sexy psychedelic soul, easily slipping from smooth and funky to powerful and gritty.


Ladywolf - Vamp Queen

Youthful shredders cranking out boisterous psychedelic garage rock.


Fremont - Keep Me Still

Builds on the breezy pop of their wonderful LP released earlier in the year.


Pop Zeus - Tell Me So

It's the off-the-cuff casualness and intimacy that makes this lo-fi pop so appealing. Well, that and the hooks.



Autonomics - Keep Tulsa Ugly
Wonderfully loose and lo-fi rock n roll.


Fog Father - Razzle-Dazzle

A trippy dream pop haze of keyboards, harmonies, and guitars.


Leading Psychics - Reconnoiter

Waves of gently buzzing guitars wrap around moody and romantic pop.


Super Soaked

A simple recipe with smashing results: garage rock guitars propelled by youthful punk energy.

2 Comments:

awmercy said...

Fen Wik Ren's Horrors of World should also probably be on here.

Emily said...

I have actually read a lot of your blog posts in the last hour. I really enjoy what you are doing here. (And as a writer of fantasy novels, I'm enjoying looking at different aspects of that when you go through them in blog post). And truly, I love world-culture building.