Listmania: Best EPs ever

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This might inaugurate a new series of threads. Rabid music fans are generally crazy about lists (Think about "High Fidelity" and its characters, they're constantly coming up with lists...) so this shouldn't annoy you;-) Now to the topic: while I frankly hate singles I don't disregard Eps because more often than not they're are the only way for an artist to publish songs/tracks that simply wouldn't fit on his "regular" albums. Often they're just "divertissements" (the artist is just having fun), other times they're a way to experiment (and if the experimentation proves successful the following album will likely retain the new elements). Anyway, which are the best Eps ever?

― , Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Polvo - 'Celebrate the New Dark Age' Archers of Loaf - 'vs. the Greatest of All Time'

Whaddaya know? They're both from the same town in the same era!

― Tim Baier, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Depends on where you draw the line between single and EP, I suppose. The first genuine EP that comes to mind is Sugar's Beaster, 30 minutes of Bob Mould's nastiest and most mean-spirited songwriting after early Husker Du. Other than the nice acoustic intro, the rest is rather vicious. But then again, 30 minutes is full album length by some standards. I imagine there are several others -- Swervedriver's first three singles/EPs, Gang of Four's Yellow, etc. Just can't think of many right now.

― Andy, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

At the moment I can only come up with: "Back to School E.P." - Royal Trux and "The Stull E.P." - Urge Overkill. Oh yeah and the "Frozen E.P." by Curve was pretty good.

― Omar, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

My Bloody Valentine's run of four EPs on Creation pretty much smokes everybody and everything. I would, of course, say this. Anyone notice how much "Feed Me With Your Kiss" outgrunges grunge years before his time? Er, more later.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Pere Ubu - "Datapanik In The Year Zero"

How come only alternative bands seem to make EPs? Hip-hop and dance artists, for example, don't often seem to use the term, whereas some alt.bands are really ostentatious about, oh, this is an EP not a single. (Mind you the double twelve-inch pack seems not to have caught on in indie).

― Tom, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

And now my Simone-baiting answer:

My other favourite EP was a cassingle EP made up of four then-recent Abba singles - Super Trouper, Lay All Your Love On Me, The Winner Takes It All and One Of Us. I guess they put it out to test the nascent cassingle market - my Dad bought it anyway, and I played it endlessly when I was 9 or so. Heavenly.

Ned is right about the MBV EPs - a compilation CD of those would be better than any of their albums.

― Tom, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Tom, the EP is not unknown in hip-hop, but I haven't heard of many US hip-hop EPs recently. The first Beatnuts and Blackalicious records to make it over here were EPs, were they not?

That first Blackalicious thing is probably my favourite EP, as it happens.

The EP is also quite a popular format in UK hip-hop.

Just a thought.

Tim

― Tim, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

snapper's first ep, the chills 'lost ep', ride 'today forever', bien 'maxi-ep'

― keith, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Some of my fave EPs are: Archers of Loaf:vs. the Greatest of All Time; Philistines Jr: The Continuing Struggle of; Man or Astroman?: Your Weight on the Moon; Sigur Ros: Ny Batteri

― jel, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The Beatles - 'Extracts from the film A Hard Day's Night' (either volume) Belle & Sebastian - '3...6...9 Seconds of Light' The Wedding Present - 'Brassneck' Hopkirk & Lee - 'Beneath The Apple Tree'

The whole EP/single distinction is pretty stupid, and seems depend on whether or not is says 'EP' on the cover of the 12" version. I suppose you could say 3 songs = single with bonus track and 4 songs = EP, no matter what the band tell you.

I mean EP once meant something tangible, back in 7" only days. Was Buzzcock's 'Spriral Scratch' the start of the second wave of EPs? Blame them. Except hang on, that was on 7". OK, what was the first 12" that called itself an EP? Blame whoever that was.

― Nick, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The Birthday Party: The Bad Seed Blue Humans: To Higher Time Boredoms: Super Roots Coil: the solstice EPs The Gossip: s/t Green Day: Slappy, 1000 Hours The Jesus Lizard: Head Lydia Lunch: The Drowning of Lucy Hamilton Mudhoney: Superfuzz Bigmuff MX-80: Big Hits Nine Inch Nails: Broken Nirvana: Blew Nurse With Wound: Alice the Goon Sonic Youth: Kill Yr Idols The Soundtrack of Our Lives: Instant Repeater '99 Swans: s/t

EPs are indeed stupid.

― Otis Wheeler, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Defining EP as a really long single, a really short album, or something actually advertised as an EP: Anal Babes - Cocaine Swastika, Angry Samoans - Inside My Brain, The Replacements - Stink, DNA - whatever that 12" was called, The Wipers - Alien Boy, The Neo Boys - Never Come Down, VOM - I'm In Love With Your Mom...

The only thing dumber than the EP is the cassingle.

― Kris, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

i dunno how stupid eps are, the belle and sebastian eps were exciting, and so were the long string of cocteau twins eps. also as a reformed shoegazer i once subsisted almost entirely on the four song ep. granted, eps with four remixes on them are stupid. cassingles were truly dumb, but then the lucksmiths song 'cassingle revival' is nearly enough to make me nostalgic even for that. john fahey died today, strange to see it scroll along the bottom of the cnn screen.

― keith, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Slint -- s/t; Mission of Burma -- Signals, Calls, and Marches; Pavement -- Watery Domestic; Lambchop -- Hank.

All these are what I consider artistic high-points of the respective careers of said bands.

― Sterling Clover, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Disco Inferno, Second Language EP

DI gets plugged here every other week so I felt I should be the one to do it this week. It was the first thing I'd ever heard from them, a random find in the used racks for 50 cents, and I love it.

― Ian White, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The Fall - Slates; A.R. Kane - Up Home; The Paradise Motel - Please Keep Me Safe; Disco Inferno - Second Language; Seefeel - More Like Space; My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise; Happy Mondays - Hallelujah; 4 Hero - Golden Age; Hyper-On Experience - Deaf In The Family; Saint Etienne - Places To Visit; countless more that I can't remember right now.

― Tim, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I'd go with Watery, Domestic for certain.

― larmey, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

all time best...hmm...the mohinder gravity ep...replacements stink...i can't really think of any more...really. i'm sure something better will come along. it's late.

― mac., Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Gang of Four's first 7" EP: 'Love Like Anthrax', 'Armalite Rifle' and 'Damaged Goods', if I remember correctly. Awesome.

― alex thomson, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Replacements -- Stink

Built to Spill/Caustic Resin

Uh... Zero?

Um... Watery, Domestic for sure... Major Leagues

Er... JSBX -- Rocketship

This is hard.

― JM, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Angry Samoans, Back From Samoa - The Specials, Ghost Town - D.O.A., War on 45 - U2, Under a Blood Red Sky - Butthole Surfers, Butthole Surfers -The Descendents, Bonus Fat - The Pogues, Poguetry in Motion - The Pixies, Come On Pilgrim - Ice Cube, Kill At Will - L7, Smell The Magic

― Patrick, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

fugazi -- _margin walker_: 6 complete satisfying songs with the range and depth of an album, from the desperately raging title track through the anthems and the gliding shimmer of "provisional" to the closing funeral march.

r.e.m. -- _chronic town_: their best work. bill berry never got so original and lively again, peter buck so intricate. "carnival of sorts" is a high-water mark in 80s pop music or any pop music.

_kill yr idols_ was an inspired choice. the implied threats of _confusion is sex_ take shape. the live version of "shaking hell" is the most violent frightening rock music ever.

and yes, of course, _you made me realise_/_feed me with your kiss_/_tremolo_ are very special.

― sundar subramanian, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Even though I don't own it, I do like what I've heard from Radiohead's Airbag EP. Also there's Pinback's Some Voices EP (though I don't know if that one counts since there's no full length album released yet under that name).

― Kim, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

It's been said before, but I gotta show love: Glider Tremolo You Made Me Realise Feed Me With Your Kiss

Respect!

― R.Hatcher, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I forgot one! the Olivia Tremor Control "Giant Day"...

― jel, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

vacaciones - un año de... ride - smile cocteau twins - love's easy tears

― ff, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I don't know if it's one of the "Best EP's Ever", but that first Beta Band EP is gorgeous. Also, the initial Lush EPs (that were later collected on _Gala_) were stunning.

― Dan Perry, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Im surprised no one has mentioned Spiral Scratch. 10 minutes of pure energy.

― Nick Greenfield, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

REM's 'Chronic Town', Belle and Sebastian's '3..6..9', Mogwai's eponymous. I'm probably being quite predictable here.

― Ally C, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Two Lone Swordsmen - A Bag Of Blue Sparks.

― Inukko, Tuesday, 27 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Ah, the Beta Band. How could I forget? All their first three EPs, actually.

― Robin Carmody, Tuesday, 27 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

bis - 'Secret Vampire Soundtrack e.p.' is the most perfect slab of 7inch I own

― Chewshabadoo, Tuesday, 27 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

COME ON PILGRIM BY THE PIXIES!!!!!!!!!!! ! ! !!!!

― Jake Becker, Tuesday, 27 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Come To Daddy EP by Aphex Twin - "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" &c. Pretty wild. And of course, Slates by The Fall and Sprial Scratch by the Buzzcocks. Two essentials. How about the Big Black EP called Headache?

― Dave M., Wednesday, 28 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

More votes for the Fall's Slates and the Buzzcocks' Spiral Scratch. And add Luna's Slide, Throwing Muses Chains Changed and the Fat Skier, Mekons FUN 90.

― Nick N, Tuesday, 6 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

four years pass...

The Kyuss / Queens Of The Stone Age split-EP is pretty awesome!

― Jan P., Saturday, 24 December 2005 02:38 (eighteen years ago) link

1. Wolves, Lower
2. Gardening At Night
3. Carnival Of Sorts (Box Cars)
4. 1,000,000
5. Stumble

― Aaron A, Saturday, 24 December 2005 03:01 (eighteen years ago) link

1.Slates-The Fall
2.Mutiny-Birthday Party
3.Laughing Clowns- Laughing Clowns
....feeling very middle aged all of a sudden.

― stu, Saturday, 24 December 2005 04:10 (eighteen years ago) link

EPs suck expetc for mesopotam,ia by the b52ws

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Saturday, 24 December 2005 04:11 (eighteen years ago) link

Young Marble Giants-Test Card
Scritti Politti-4 A Sides
Blue Orchids-Agents of Change
Boards of Canada--In a Beautiful Place
A Certain Ratio-Flight
E S G- 1st ep
Outhud/!!!-Split 12"ep
Urinals 7" eps!
The Lines-Cool Snap
Soundtracks and Head- Rain Rain Rain
The Clean-Boodle Boodle Boodle and Yet Another Clean eps
Kallabris-Shanghai
Cupol-Like This for Ages
Early Associates 12"s

― nerve pylon (flat_of_angles), Saturday, 24 December 2005 04:42 (eighteen years ago) link

pavement - watery domestic
portastatic - scrapbook ep
my bloody valentine - yeah all of em
tv on the radio - young liars
i can't think anymore.

― jonathan - stl (jonathan - stl), Saturday, 24 December 2005 05:26 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.slippytown.com/mxnoslv.jpg
Inevitable choice, I guess, since it's my favourite. Lotsa other good ones already cited above.

I've always felt that 12" EPs should be classified as something else entirely. 'Cause they're not exactly "extended", are they?

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Saturday, 24 December 2005 07:20 (eighteen years ago) link

Journey to the Center of Me - Kahimi Karie

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 24 December 2005 19:48 (eighteen years ago) link

The Nerves' self-titled EP
Badly Drawn Boy's five EPs
Jam and Spoon's Tales from a Danceographic Ocean

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 24 December 2005 22:36 (eighteen years ago) link

come on pilgrim is otm, but I really cant love the pavement EPs.

― Stephen C (ihope), Saturday, 24 December 2005 22:42 (eighteen years ago) link

Best Kissers In The World, Puddin' - The most underrated EP release of the 1990's.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Saturday, 24 December 2005 23:47 (eighteen years ago) link

The Eureka EP by The Grifters

― dlp9001, Sunday, 25 December 2005 03:20 (eighteen years ago) link

Kruder & Dorfmeister - G-Stoned EP, of course.

― Jena (JenaP), Sunday, 25 December 2005 03:33 (eighteen years ago) link

three months pass...

1. Les Savy Fav - Rome Written Upside Down
2. Antipop Consortium - Diagnol Ryme Garganchula 2.0
3. TV on the Radio - Young Liars
4. Radiohead - Knives Out
5. Squarepusher - Port Rhombus
6. Harco Pront - Music for Speakers
7. Crescent - s/t (aka Sun EP)
8. Autechre - Envane
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - s/t
10. Dabrye - One/ Three Selections

― lapsys, Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:33 (eighteen years ago) link

Dom & Roland - Can't Punish Me EP
Every track is timeless. The YY is Sky Spirits for fucksakes!

― harshaw (jube), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Boards of Canada- Hi Scores/In a Beautiful Place Out in the Country
Bright Eyes- Every Day and Every Night (i like it :( )
Anything by Cocteau Twins on 4AD as that recent Lullabies to Violaine compilation shows

― Harrison Barr (Petar), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:39 (eighteen years ago) link

MBV for sure.

Aphex Twin - On
Underworld - Pearl's Girl

― scnnr drkly, Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:40 (eighteen years ago) link

Royal Trux - Dogs of Love, 3-song EP
Will Oldham - Western Music

― Washable School Paste (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:42 (eighteen years ago) link

on a second thought "On" is probably a single, in which case i replace it with "Girl/Boy"

― scnnr drkly, Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:44 (eighteen years ago) link

No mention of Pulp's Sisters Ep yet? Shame on you all!

― D. Bachyrycz, Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:53 (eighteen years ago) link

About Aphex, can't believe i forgot Come to Daddy. Shame on me..

― Harrison Barr (Petar), Tuesday, 4 April 2006 20:55 (eighteen years ago) link

This Heat--Health and Efficiency

and

Cabaret Voltaire--Three Mantras

left off my list above.

― nerve pylon (flat_of_angles), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 00:24 (eighteen years ago) link

Hmm, somehow in this thread's five-year existence, which as an ILM newcomer I've only just come to be aware of, no one has mentioned anything by Guided by Voices. Hell, Bob's put out at least a dozen, at least a few have to be good! Fast Japanese Spin Cycle or Sunfish Holy Breakfast will do nicely here.

― Sam Engel (Sam E.), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 02:25 (eighteen years ago) link

crashland - standard love affair ep

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 02:28 (eighteen years ago) link

The Fire Engines - Lubricate Your Living Room
Nick Lowe - Bowi

― Dr Benway (dr benway), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 03:37 (eighteen years ago) link

this whole idea of list threads really caught on, eh?

― Sym Sym (sym), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 04:36 (eighteen years ago) link

one month passes...

i'll list 2:

1. Whatever's Cool With Me - Dinosaur Jr
2. Pikul - Silversun Pickups

― Ryan Alexander, Monday, 22 May 2006 05:59 (seventeen years ago) link

jeff buckley - live at sin-e
does that count? EP length, but live.

mission of burma - signals, calls and marches

not the best, but personal faves:
ted leo/pharmacists - treble in trouble
deerhoof - green cosmos

― Emily B (Emily B), Monday, 22 May 2006 07:22 (seventeen years ago) link

breeders - safari

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 22 May 2006 07:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Screamager EP - Therapy?

― Danny boy, Monday, 22 May 2006 08:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Addditional votes for:

R.E.M. - Chronic Town
The Replacements - Stink
Blackalicious - A2G
MBV - Tremelo
Curve - Blindfolded
Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
Guided By Voices - Pipe Dreams of Instant Prince Whippet, etc.

Jeff Buckley gets nixed because the Expanded Version is so ridiculously superior.

Add:

Soul Asylum - Clam Dip & Other Delights
Fiery Furnaces - The Fiery Furnaces EP

― christoff (christoff), Monday, 22 May 2006 18:02 (seventeen years ago) link

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