Best EPs (*or Mini-Albums) of 2019
We are very excited to share the most comprehensive “Best Of” list ever compiled by the Cups N Cakes Network. This list comes with an asterisk because we decided to allow mini-albums into the mix. It’s a strange differentiator but some sticklers out there may argue the designation of some of these releases according to a specific set of rules for EPs. (This is a crazy topic on its own as rules have changed over the years and sometimes different countries will even have different EP guidelines!)
Anyway, if you want to argue one of these releases not being an EP… it’s a mini-album, therefore allowed on this list!
Without further ado… please take the time to read about, and listen to our favourite EPs (and mini-albums) of 2019.
#25 - Purlicue - Dip 'n Dot
The antidote to Calgary’s forlorn winters. With double-guitar and steady drums, Purlicue yips and harmonizes their way into your heart on their dark but fruity punk EP Dip n’ Dot.
- Nicola Gunter
#24 - Shirley & The Pyramids - A New American Classic
Shirley & The Pyramids return with their first release recorded as a band, live off the floor. The resulting four songs capture their live performance’s psych-garage aesthetic for the first time. Driving percussion, guitar reverb and a lot of warm fuzz. One of Saskatoon’s finest.
- Jeff MacCallum
#23 - TETRIX - Every House Has A Light On
Every House Has A Light On is a mind fuck… which is what we’ve come to expect from this Calgary (we think) experimental, psych, jazz, hip-hop, and now country, outfit. Accordian’s run ablaze on this weirdo release that is harsh and beautiful at the same time.
- Jeff MacCallum
#22 - Apollo Suns - Dawn Offerings
Apollo Suns’ Dawn Offerings is a funky fusion of horn, synthesizer and guitar-driven instrumentals that will guide many a soul into limb flailing exuberance at the outdoor jazz festival. Watch out, you might catch an elbow from a rapturous Aunt (or two) in the fray.
- JD Ormond
#21 - Marissa Burwell - Self Titled EP
Reminiscent at times of Sarah McLachlan and early Avril Lavigne, Marissa Burwell’s debut EP hits all the right notes, plus a few surprising ones. Made up of five songs, split between sparse singer-songwriter ballads & thoughtful full-band arrangements, this EP is a promising collection of familiar but fresh folk-pop.
- Greg Torwalt
#20 - Katie & The Wildfire - Ten Speed
With a name like Katie & The Wildfire, one might expect to hear a prairie-rock barn burner of an EP, but instead the Edmonton group has crafted a soulful and experimental collection of dark, dreamy, jazz influenced pop music. The EP has an air of confidence to it, with well timed staccato piano chords, smooth vocals and groovy, dynamic drumming.
- Greg Torwalt
#19 - Lyrique - Saints In The Summer
Lyrique’s new EP, Saints In The Summer, highlights this Calgarian’s lyrical precision. Rhyming at break neck speeds, Lyrique tells his story as a Filipino immigrant in triple-time over luscious beats that are perfect for a midnight ride.
- Jeff MacCallum
#18 - Man Candy - Model Boyfriend
Man Candy is a punk-rock duo from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their debut release, Model Boyfriend, is a rigorous, seven song tutorial to reprogram dudes who wear Oakley sunglasses backwards.
- JD Ormond
#17 - Tropic Harbour - Calm
Victoria’s Mark Berg understands chill to the core. His latest release as Tropic Harbour lives up to its name... Calm. Sunset chill-wave vibes, perfect for watching the waves crash into the shore while in a cannabis haze.
- Jeff MacCallum
#16 - Snake River - Tread On To The Seaside
Tread On To The Seaside from Regina’s Snake River, continues to prove why the band is a psychedelic force to be reckoned with. A rippling consciousness is embodied by mind-bending guitar parts while the rhythm section keeps a head-bobbing grasp on reality.
- Jeshaiah David
#15 - BBQT - Nice View
Jangly guitars blend with soft melodies and driving surfer beats to create the sweet summertime sounds of, BBQT. Angelic and subdued vocals, lightly dipped in reverb, resonate through anthems of self rediscovery, while lively and breezy guitar riffs inspire an air of transformation. Nice View, carries spirited drum beats coated with bright instrumentals and day-dreamy lyrics to create the perfect soundtrack for starting all over again.
- Jackie Klapak
#14 - BLVD NOIR - Mes Amis
There is some spectacular synthesis of jazz, dub and electronic music on Mes Amis EP by Calgary’s BLVD NOIR. The EP slowly builds steam over the first three tracks with “Neige Soleil” channelling trip-hop and turntablism stylings of Massive Attack and DJ Shadow. The EP picks up a funkier pace in the last two tracks with “P’tit Feu” featuring some incredible drum breaks over a slithering arabesque melody that I wish went into infinity.
-Piyush Patel
#13 - Bluebloods - Make It Rain
Make it Rain is a beautiful and impeccably crafted oddball pop EP from Winnipeg producer Bluebloods. Featuring a small hit list of guest vocalists, the songs pluck and caress your pleasure senses until you find yourself engaged in questionable acts upon your chesterfield. “This EP is damn near witchcraft!” you might tell your roommates as they walk in on you. So damned good.
- JD Ormond
#12 - Chunder Buffet - Lemon Sleazy
It doesn’t get any fresher than Saskatoon’s Chunder Buffet who haven’t missed a step with a revamped lineup on their second release. Lemon Sleazy is a smorgasbord of seductively strange punk-rock that’s been served up with a generous portion of squeezed citrus.
- Jeshaiah David
#11 - The Radiation Flowers - Stuck In A Maze
Stuck In A Maze is a more mature and professional sounding release than previous efforts, almost as if to intentionally avoid the inevitable hangover that comes with straying a bit too far into that psych abyss. The Radiation Flowers have once again proved that they are still one of the most exciting and relevant bands on the Canadian prairies.
- Lenore Maier
#10 - Mr. Merlot - City Sex Vol. 2
“A truly nasty sweetie from the west coast of Canada”, aka Vancouver’s Mr. Merlot captures the need for vulnerability in romance while swirling in charming funk grooves with the release of the exceptionally irresistible City Sex Volume 2. It’s my fave electronic-pop release of 2019 and gracefully incorporates guitar, flute, clarinet, percussion, violin, vocals and saxophone. Its creativity is enhanced by Rob Ondzik’s (Mr. Merlot, himself) choice of collaborators. The record is produced and co-written by the fabulous Jay Arner, but also features guitarist Nicolas Bragg (Destroyer), Jessica Delisle (Energy Slime) and members from Supermoon and Milk.
- Nicola Gunter
#9 - Sauna - EP
Toronto’s Sauna are a bit of a supergroup featuring members of other local bands such as Greys, Weaves and Fake Palms. The EP features lush synths, slinky disco-esque baselines over crisp motorik percussion and vocals that are laced with a sense of something dark and foreboding. The EP highlight, “Folded Hands”, starts with a mammoth baseline which reappears throughout the track with an eerie unease of impending doom. Sauna’s EP is a great introduction to their sound palette and it will be interesting to see what they have to share with the world in 2020.
- Piyush Patel
#8 - Hot Garbage - Coco’s Paradise
Cups N Cakes own Jeshaiah David aptly described Coco's Paradise as "exuberantly dark, murky with fuzz and always creating tension with throbbing melancholy". I call it downright scary. Perhaps the most distinctive attribute of this album is the varied approach. Whether it's the multi-beat chops of "100" or the psych meanderings of "Leach", the EP draws in the listener. If you can get into the darkness, it's a fairly engaging listen. The biggest impact track is "Dome", as it offers an unshakable darkness. It's downright spooky, and it lingers. Coco's Paradise is a rarity in today's climate of throwaway pop and re-hashed indie garage-rock. Hot Garbage should be applauded for sticking to their guns and not letting up.
- Drew Cox
#7 - Polly Dactic - Half Nermal
Polly Dactic’s EP Half Nermal is the sultry futuristic goth-pop of the experimental electronic trio Miss Uranus, Dr. Zaurus, and Nagrum. Very mysterious. They create a soundscape that avoids standardization, moving beyond typical synthwave elements and propelling themselves even further into a more cosmic ethereal modality to take you on a synth-space odyssey.
- Nicola Gunter
#6 - Mob Bounce - Transformation
Indigenous hip-hop is elevating the rap game across Canada. Vancouver based rappers Heebz the Earthchild (Travis Hebert) and The Northwest Kid (Craigy Craig) are the duo that make up Mob Bounce and they have effectively contributed to this elevation. With the release of their EP Transformation they belong beside their contemporaries Snotty Nose Rez Kids and A Tribe Called Red. Combining elements of hip-hop, EDM, trap and traditional elements of their Cree-Metis and Gitxsan backgrounds, the six tracks touch on themes of spirituality, hibernation and re-awakening, finding strength, and of course… transformation.
- Nicola Gunter
#5 - Wolf Willow - And The Leaves Have Turned To Amber
Wolf Willow’s wonderful EP sounds like the music your hip Grandma would have humming from her radio while she lights incense and you discuss the last episode of Antiques Roadshow. Thanks to “live off the floor” recording sessions at SoulSound Studio in Regina, Wolf Willow jumps out of the speakers on And The Leaves Have Turned to Amber. When a band is talented and tight, recording live is never a bad idea, and seeing that Wolf Willow’s stage show and image draw inspiration from the earlier twentieth century, it also makes good sense. The musicality found throughout the six song EP is impressive, with swelling horns, dynamic string sections and slick finger pickin’. Mitsy Muller’s ethereal and character-filled voice would make the likes of Neko Case and Jenny Lewis proud, especially on the standout: ”The Chuch of Saint Johnny Cash”. The burgeoning psychedelic folk and surf-country scene in Saskatchewan is one to keep an eye on, with Wolf Willow adding a unique voice to the mix.
- Greg Torwalt
#4 - Priors - “Call For You” EP
Why bother worrying about the consequences when you already got a record? Priors are a band that doubles down on the criminally loud because it’s not like your hearing is coming back any time soon. This utter disregard for peace and quiet is an attitude that permeates every guitar lick and lyric until the whole thing is so saturated with so much sass that it’s lashing out with each rapid blast of the drums. Call For You is basically six minutes and thirty nine seconds of total mayhem and Priors are guilty as charged.
- Jeshaiah David
#3 - Peach Pyramid - Bright Blue
The jangly pop of Victoria’s Peach Pyramid caught the ears of the Cups N Cakes Network, enough so for a confident spot on this years “Best EP’s” list. The concise and irresistibly catchy Bright Blue was released this year on Oscar St. Records, and co-produced by Colin Stewart and Kathryn Calder. Lead singer and songwriter Jen Svertson’s sugary vocals leave some of the years best indie-pop hooks running on that, ‘stuck in your head’, kind of repeat that’s tough to shake. Two years after the bands 2017 freshman full-length Repeating Myself, Bright Blue was highly anticipated and did not disappoint.
- Ella Coyes
#2 - Deliluh - Oath Of Intent
The conveyor belt is turned off with a flick of a switch, and a blissful hush comes over the factory, signalling lunchtime. The crew head outside to enjoy a smoke and a sandwich in the sunshine.
Pale moustachioed Al, quiet Al, tuna salad Al, watches them go through the dirty office window. After the last of them has left, he reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out his recording device. He closes his eyes and begins to whisper into it. “The drab and run down city skeleton was once again abandoned by it’s hosts,” he says. He gets up and begins to shimmy in a herky-jerk fashion, syncing up his movements to the rhythmic clicking of some panel on the other side of the room.
“It rakes my mind,” he repeats.
Groovy minimalism, angular guitar, breaks of beautiful crescendoing, Deliluh’s sonic layers evolve from pinpricks to jagged stabs to sledgehammer pulverization, to dust.
Al is put on stress leave for photocopying his balls and hanging hundreds of pictures around the office.
- JD Ormond
#1 - Cartel Madras - Age Of The Goonda
As a brown person living in the prairies looking for representation, I’ve been waiting for Cartel Madras and their brand of infectious yet gritty hip-hop for a very long time. Born in Chennai, India but formed and moulded in Calgary, the duo’s meteoric rise over the last two years is akin to the rise of the real-life Indian goonda (thug) Dawood Ibrahim that they reference in the icy cold track “Dawood Ibrahim (woof woof)”. The infamous Indian mobster of the Indian underworld might still be in hiding, but Cartel Madras have truly arrived on the world stage with the release of Age Of The Goonda along their recent signing with Sub Pop records.
The two sisters, Contra and Eboshi, rap with ferocious energy and style about different topics to subvert the typical patriarchal hip-hop narrative. With their distinctive commentary about navigating their queer desi identities in a society which expects them to act a certain way, Cartel Madras and their brand of “goonda rap” effectively shines a light on the lives of Indian or any diaspora struggling to find their place in this world.
The Maruti driving, dosa eating, lassi drinking, diaspora referencing sisters have successfully revitalized a musical ecosystem previously inhabited by artists such as M.I.A, Sweat Shop Boys and more recently Jai Paul. On the track “Goonda Gold”, the best track on this EP, the skittering tabla beat leads to one of the best lines of 2019:
“Bitch, I’m bad, I’m brown, I’m gold”,
The line is almost a positive affirmation for a person of colour like myself, and several others who may feel marginalized and under represented in the largely white Alberta music scene. On the same track Eboshi rightfully declares with bravado, “bitch I got nothing to lose”, and inextricably we as listeners have everything to gain.
-Piyush Patel
For more “Best Of 2019” coverage, check our list of releases that “Slipped Through The Cracks” and our “Best Cover Art” from the past year. Also, keep coming back for future coverage on our favourite tracks and albums of 2019, our most anticipated of 2020, and our favourite releases of the past decade.