2023 Music In Review: Best EPs
Welcome back to my year-in-review series! Look forward to hearing about my favorite songs and albums from 2023 in the coming weeks. But for now, let’s dig into my five favorite EPs of the year!
5. The Alchemist — “Flying High, Part 2”
Like many great hip-hop producers before him, The Alchemist isn’t often recognized for his skill as a lyricist, despite the respect he’s earned by crafting some of underground hip-hop’s finest beats for decades. But in this sequel to an EP earlier in the year which saw Al solely behind the turntable, The Alchemist puts any doubts about his skill as an MC to rest. Featuring plenty of his signature simple and soulful beats, “Flying High, Part 2” sees Al more than holding his own alongside some of the underground’s greatest rappers, delivering some exciting chemistry with Conway the Machine and Action Bronson especially. Come to “Flying High, Part 2” for the beats, but stay for the fully realized songs and witty one liners.
4. SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE — “i’m so lucky”
Fans of Philadelphia-based hypnagogic pop outfit SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE are still waiting for a full-length follow up to 2021’s excellent “ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH,” but it’s hard to feel cheated after hearing these four insane songs. Across the dizzying 11 minutes of “i’m so lucky,” the band never lets you get comfortable, throwing you from blissful synths, warm strings and airy vocals into hellscapes of distorted guitars and mangled samples without warning. Despite the chaos that could easily scare away newcomers, SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE manages to craft some genuinely catchy songs, with the tormented yelling and heavy guitar riffs of “tapeworm” and the dreamy synth melodies and spacey vocal samples of “natural devotion 2” standing out as instantly unforgettable for entirely different reasons. If you’re looking for a short listen with a whole album’s worth of experimental production and compelling songwriting, you’re not going to find much better than “i’m so lucky.”
3. Ariel — “Symphonia”
Singer and songwriter Ariel Tiffany Sanders puts together tunes that feel equally nostalgic and current on “Symphonia,” bringing sticky melodies and charismatic performances to each of these four sultry jams. Supported by Yumo’s consistently elegant and lush production, Ariel delivers instantly catchy song after song, from the relentlessly sticky verses and choruses of “Layaway Luv” that’ll have you singing along by the end of your first listen to the carefree vocalizations at the climax of “Aquatic.” By the time you get to the lovesick title track, an absolute earworm complete with the most immersive atmosphere on the whole project, you’ll know why Ariel is an up-and-coming R&B star to watch.
2. Geese — “4D Country”
New York-based rockers Geese followed up their breakout album from earlier in the year, “3D Country,” with an EP that is more of the same in the best way possible. The five songs and 20-odd minutes of “4D Country” come together into a project that feels just as cohesive as it is goofy, keeping the quality just as high as, if not higher than on the album it complements. From the extended seven-minute cut of “3D Country’s” title track that kicks off the wild ride to the playful serenity of closer “Space Race,” the band grabs you with energetic performances and tongue-in-cheek songwriting and never lets you go, with Cameron Winter’s theatrical singing playing against the soulful backing vocals giving each song a cartoonish, addictive charm. Whether you start with the EP or the album, give Geese a chance to draw you into their wild, western world.
1. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown — “SCARING THE HOES: DLC PACK”
If these truly are just leftovers from Peggy and Danny’s collaborative album from earlier in the year, this EP proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that these two unlock magic together in the studio. The four inventive, futuristic and hard-hitting bangers of “SCARING THE HOES: DLC PACK” make for one of the most satisfying musical victory laps I’ve ever witnessed. Over JPEGMAFIA’s sample-heavy, hyperactive and punchy beats, Peggy and Detroit-based hip-hop veteran Danny Brown spit raps with flows so smooth that it’s easy to forget just how clever and dense their lyrics can be. From the soulful chops and relentless bars of “HERMANOS” to the easygoing soul and introspective verses of “Tell Me Where To Go,” these two MCs put just as much passion and energy into this short but sweet EP as their debut collaborative album. Listen to this EP, give JPEGMAFIA his flowers as one of hip-hop’s greatest producers and know both Danny and Peggy are best each of their generations have to offer.
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