If you had the chance to read my Top 21 Albums of 2021 feature, then you’re likely aware that I have a few guidelines that I follow when cultivating that list. One of the biggest disqualifiers is if an album is an EP vs. a full length. Most years, that never seemed to be a big issue because I rarely listen to EPs. I just naturally steer towards full lengths. With the pandemic in full force and streaming becoming even more prevalent, singles and EPs have become more commonplace. Continuing to ignore them at the end of the year just won’t cut it any longer. There are so many good bands putting music out at a much more rapid pace these days, that it’s finally time for me to make a Top 10 EPs list.
As with my other Top lists, I’m not claiming these are the best EPs out there. It’s simply the Top 10 EPs that I enjoyed listening to this year. I don’t try to come off as a pretentious arbiter of good taste, so my biggest hope with this list is to showcase some bands that I think are really making great music right now. They deserve a listen. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed. So, buckle up and get ready, here is my list of Top 10 EPs of 2021.
10. Illicit Nature – Skate the Bird
Inspired by the Skate the Bird video game, Illicit Nature’s EP of the same name offers up a dynamic, yet throwback punk sound. While they sound like they would fit in with the ’80s punk scene, Illicit Nature has a modern feel to go with their nostalgic sensibility.
9. Ghost Tones – Strange Terrain
Ghost Tones is brand new to me, and after listening to this EP, I can’t wait to hear their first full-length. Hailing from New Haven, CT, Ghost Tones offers up a frenzied blend of ska, reggae, funk, and punk. Their songs are extremely catchy and will immediately make you want to dance.
8. Sgt. Scag / Hans Gruber and the Die Hards – Sgt. Scagnetti vs Hans Gruber and the Die Hards
Sgt. Scag Vs. Hans Gruber and the Die Hards is eight minutes of ska punk candy. Each band may offer up different flavors of candy, but they’re both tasty. It’s well worth the listen to track this EP down and give it a listen, especially with how topical each song on the EP are. For fans of Fishbone, Mephiskapheles, and Gangster Fun.
7. Mayson’s Party – S/T
Produced by HEY-SMITH’s Shuhei Igari, Mayson’s Party’s self-titled EP is 12 minutes of amazing Japanese ska punk. You’ll hear hints of other Japanese bands like Kemuri, Hi-Standard, and HEY-SMITH. There’s also a bit of Sum 41, Big D and the Kid’s Table, and MU330 influence sprinkled in as well. It’s a shame international bands don’t get as much exposure in the USA, so if you get a chance, you won’t regret listening to Mayson’s Party.
6. Courtesy of Tim / Meskales – Unidos Vencemos Divided We Fall
As a resident of the Midwest, this might come off as a bit biased, but I think the Midwest ska scene has always been severely underrated. Most of the attention lands on California and New York, but there has always been a steady stream of great ska bands coming out of the Midwest. This EP highlights two of them – Courtesy of Tim and Meskales out of Wisconsin. Both bands are great ska punk bands that touch on urgent and current issues affecting our country. Not only does each band offer up a brand new tune, but they cover each other as well. A great introduction to them both. If you’re a fan of ska punk, you need to know these bands. If you’re not a fan, these two bands may just convert you.
5. Common Sense Kid – Maybe This is a Midlife Crisis?
Common Sense Kid embodies everything I expected to do with the early days of the pandemic, but didn’t. With the extra downtime without traveling and such, I had lofty goals of learning an instrument, recording an album, starting a record label, starting a podcast, writing a novel. All I really did was doom scroll and try to control my anxiety. Common Sense Kid on the other hand recorded a seven song EP . Those tracks feature ska, ska punk, 2 Tone, reggae, hip hop, and drum and bass. Kid packs a lot into those seven tracks. It’s the best midlife crisis I’ve listened to yet.
4. Lo(u)ser – Super GWARio Kart
There really was no chance in me not liking this EP. I love ska music. I love Nintendo. And, I love GWAR. Chris Graue offers up so many of my favorite things in an extremely polished ska package with Lo(u)ser. Super GWARio Kart features four extremely catchy ska punk/power pop songs filled with honest observations about life, and the cynical charm you might find from Reel Big Fish (RBF’s Aaron Barret and Scott Klopfenstein even reunite for a track on this EP). RBF aren’t the only guest stars here. There’s also a track with We Are The Union and one with Suburban Legends.
3. John Bunkley – Sunshine and Chocolate
As the founding member of Gangster Fun, it’s fair to say John Bunkley is one of the most important people in Michigan ska. Without him, you likely wouldn’t have bands like The Suicide Machines for instance. After focusing more on his art in recent years, Bunkley is back with a solo project backed by members of The Tellways. You’ll hear up-tempo Detroit funk, rocksteady, jazz, R&B, and ska spread across the six tracks on this EP. Definitely worth tracking down.
2. Bruce Lee Band – Division in the Heartland
I’ve been a fan of Bruce Lee Band ever since the days of it just being Less Than Jake backing up Mike Park. Since then, the band’s line-up and sound has evolved. While these days, Bruce Lee Band is more of a hobby and an excuse for good friends to see each other, when they put out music, it’s always top-notch. Division in the Heartland is no exception. This EP is very much a byproduct of the last few five or six years in America. We are more divided today than we have been in a very long time. The anxiety that brings is evident on the title track. This EP is the best Bruce Lee Band has ever sounded, and this lineup is among the best in the band’s history.
1. Eichlers / GET TUFF – IKE & TUFF GO TO HOLLYWOOD
Eichlers is my favorite musical discovery of pandemic times. He takes emo trap, hyper pop, and ska music under the guise of hyperska. What Eichlers is doing with ska music is some of the most innovative I’ve heard in a while. I’m a huge fan of ska music in all its forms and welcome new interpretations. On this EP, Ike is joined by GET TUFF. TUFF typically hovers around the emo and punk circles, but they can also be heard on a few Skatune Network covers. With IKE & TUFF GO To HOLLYWOOD, the two join forces to create an original track, a Kid Rock cover (don’t cringe, it’s amazing), and remixes of each other’s music. Ike’s remix gives GET TUFF a fresh coat of hyperska paint, while Tuff channels Hayley Williams and adds some ominous electronic beats for their remix. It was so hard to pick what my favorite EP of 2021, but I found myself always going back to these four songs time and time again since their release. Now, so many months later, they still excite me just as much as they did when I first heard them.
