Great EPs

[Jorge]

I think EPs often get unfairly overlooked in favor of full-length albums, when sometimes they can deliver a perfectly fulfilling experience on their own. There are plenty of "great albums" lists but not a whole lot of "great EPs" lists, so let's make one.

What are some of your favorite EPs?

[Ello Sailor]

[dad]

Great idea, Jorge.

I’m sure I’ll think of more, but off the top of my head, I’ve always liked Sun Giant by Fleet Foxes.

[dad]

hell yeah, Sailor. That Silversun Pickups is a good call.

[i got bugs]

Jar of flies, obv

[wease]

Jar of flies, obv

And Sap, yes

[Simple Torture]

Will Johnson’s Little Raider EP immediately comes to mind.

[Chris_H_2]

[tragabigzanda]

I was gonna lead with the Primus Nigel EP that Ello posted.

I’m willing to argue that the best EP ever is the original release of Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls, and Marches. (I highlight the original because later releases added other singles, and all versions are fantastic but the initial six song release is a monster in its own right).

Also:

Radiohead - Airbag (I like this more than OK Computer)

Beastie Boys - Aglo e Olio

Fugazi - Furniture

[liebzz]

Does Merkinball count?

[daft twat]

Jar of flies, obv

This is the gold standard.

Was broken by nin an ep? Opiate by tool? I remember enjoying those in their time.

[LetMeSleep]

Haven’t we done this before?

Species Deceases - Midnight Oil

[liebzz]

Rolling Stones - 5x5
Goose - Autumn Crossing (2023 release)
The Black Keys - The Moan
The Black Keys - Chulahoma
Alice In Chains - Sap
Alice In Chains - Jar of Flies
Fantastic Negrito - Deluxe EP
Guns N Roses - G N R Lies (I thought this was considered an EP)
Marcus King Band - Due North
My Morning Jacket - Chocolate and Ice (even if for Cobra alone)
Pearl Jam - Merkinball
Primus - Miscellaneous Debris
The War on Drugs - Barrel of Batteries

[Kevin Davis]

Sun Giant by Fleet Foxes.

Love this one! This and their debut are still my favorite releases by them, and I've loved them all.

Another great call! Also their Peel Sessions EP from around the same time -- what a great era for SP.

IMO, Mogwai are the kings of the EP during my lifetime:

Mogwai - EP+2 (or +6 depending on your region)
Mogwai - Travels in Constants
Mogwai - My Father My King (rec. by Albini!)
The Clientele - That Night, a Forest Grew
The Clientele - Minotaur
Calexico - Convict Pool
The Decemberists - The Tain
Death Cab for Cutie - Stability
Black Thought - Streams of Thought Vol. 1 and 2
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Cheyenne Mize - Among the Gold
The Tallest Man on Earth - Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird

There are also a lot of great, historical ones in jazz from the days before LP's (Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sinatra, etc.), though many of those were quickly compiled onto fuller-length collections early in the album era, which is how they've been reissued ever since and is likely how they'll be remembered. Same with some '60's rock EP's like the Beatles' Long Tall Sally (anthologized on Past Masters) and the Rolling Stones EP (which was chopped up piecemeal across a few different releases).

I love a good EP. I'd much rather bands release an EP a year than wait 3-4 years between full-lengths.

[dad]

Pavement - Watery, Domestic

I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.

[Higgs]

Haven’t we done this before?

Species Deceases - Midnight Oil

Well duh.

[Jorge]

Haven’t we done this before?

Have we? It is hard to search

[Simple Torture]

Merkinball is a single and not an EP, friends.

[Vitalogist]

My cousins and I have been debating the best EPs of all time. I said my favorite is REM’s Chronic Town. Maybe it’s nostalgia but it’s my favorite.

[B]

Jar of flies, obv

And Sap, yes

I was going to say Sap. I thought JoF was an album.