FAVORITE MINNESOTA EPS OF 2021
2021 is in the rearview mirror, and while it may have been another terrible year for the world, it was an excellent year for Minnesota music. Here is a list of some of our favorite EPs of the year. As with any list, there are obviously things we missed, but we did our best to listen to as much as possible. Enjoy and let us know what your favorites were and what we missed.
James’s Favorite EPs
I/O the ProcessR “Phonics Vol. 2”
I/O the ProcessR slices through the white noise like a machete in his new EP- Phonics Vol. 2. The B&E family of artists has released so many great albums this year and I/O elevates his whole crew with his razor-sharp delivery and ever-changing flow. His style is the perfectly balanced mix of everyday life and esoteric strangeness. The beat selection is also incredible with production from Howard DeWitt, Jake PM, Just Wulf, ACKronem and I/O himself. He is not only an MC/producer, but he also plays guitar in B&E’s new Thrash/Heavy Metal group “Glass Eyes” Keep an eye out for whatever I/O does next.
Facorite tracks: Strange Matter and Line Cook
Related Article: Sx3H.W.A (Stuff Someone Should Have Written About) #2: I/O the ProcessR’s “Vestiges”
Twain “Midwest Mayor”
The new project from Twain produced entirely by LUKE-O is banging front to back. It not only has the lyricism we have come to expect from Twain, but it also shows a lot of growth and wisdom. He is confronting personal struggles as well as bringing light to current events. LUKE-O’s beats could not be better. They are a perfect match for Twain’s style. There’s a lot to unpack in these six tracks so the “relisten” factor is high, plus bonus points for name-dropping the author Donald Goines.
Favorite tracks: Joliet feat Cariah Brinae, and Travels feat. LUKE-O and Kilz
Related Article: TWAIN FT. JAY JEMINII AND SHAINA LACEY "CHANGES" MUSIC VIDEO
Phillip Saint John “Sun Indigo”
“Sun Indigo” gave me goosebumps. After taking a 2-month break from music, PSJ returns more focused than ever. The emotions are evident. There is really nothing concealed here. In this project, a clear voice is found. Each track is inspired, upbeat and fun. After our own personal trials, that hard won peace and gratitude is what we value the most and that’s what comes across in this music.
Favorite tracks: Beautiful Day and Sun Indigo
Related Article: Philip Saint John's "Sun Indigo" Review
Andrew’s Favorite EPs
Serious Machine “Still We All”
I feel an incredible amount of tension when listening to Serious Machine. It feels like waiting for a massive object that is balanced on edge and about to fall over, as if one of the great pyramids were inverted and balanced on its point. You’re holding your breath waiting for the collapse, but the trick is that for as amazingly anxious and unstable as the vocals feel, the instrumentation roots it to the ground, keeping everything perfectly stable. This back and forth is delicious enough to keep me coming back, but then the cherry on top of this topsy-turvy sundae is the stream of consciousness style lyricism that seems drenched in metaphor. I cannot wait to see the songs from “Still We All” performed live.
Favorite song: Earth, Moon
Related Article: SERIOUS MACHINE "RING RING" VIDEO
Nigel T “left for dead”
Gritty and grimy, “left for dead” feels like an audio version of a dark reboot of an 80’s horror movie (but one of the good ones). Strained vocals deliver bars over a bass-heavy backing beat. The whole EP feels unsettling, with clips and audio samples that feel straight out of a horror movie. Not for the faint of heart, “left for dead” references ultraviolence and self-harm, and the entire EP is labeled explicit on Spotify. That being said, there is something intangible about the lyrics and their delivery that draws me in and the production is absolutely on point. Give “left for dead” a listen, if you dare.
Favorite song: Dystopian Movies Are Just Documentaries
Languid “I’ve Come To Terms With Who I Am”
Hitting me like a cannonball full of nostalgia, “I’ve Come To Terms With Who I Am” takes all the best parts of emo from the past two decades and expresses it through a new lens. This EP is full of heartfelt lyrics achingly delivered over jangly guitars and beat perfect stuttering percussion. Genre-defining loud-quiets and start-stops draw you in and wrap you in nostalgia, but the updated riffs and dynamic rhythm keep things fresh and interesting.
Favorite Song: Can I See
Related Article: MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 12/15/21
Inflict “The Fear of Losing Everything”
Starting like a shotgun blast, “The Fear of Losing Everything” never takes its foot off the gas pedal until the last riff fades out. The percussion pulses like a bruised lip after a punch to the face. The riffs are fast and frequent. The vocals are delivered with intensity and passion. This EP will get your adrenaline pumping and I dare you to sit still while listening to it.
Favorite song: I’m Never Coming Home
Gully Boys “Favorite Son”
Probably the least surprising project on my list, the Gully Boys took it to another level with “Favorite Son”. I cannot tell you how many times throughout this last year I saw a news article and the scream-singing of “I hate it here” from the first track “The Way” popped into my head. For an project of only five songs, “Favorite Son” has an impressive range, from the pop undertone in “I’m Not Yours” to the gentler ballad “In Another Life” to the energetic rock closer “Russian Doll.” The Gully Boys are taking over the world, and I am extremely excited for it.
Favorite song: The Way
Related Article: GULLY BOYS "PHONY" ALBUM PREMIERE
SWRS “You’re All But Deceased”
SWRS put their glorious synth-heavy dark-pop on full display on “You’re All But Deceased”. Every song has a bleak or apathetic tone with the lyrics, but contrasted with a cooler than cool 80s pop delivery. I can’t decide if the line that sum this sentiment up best is the cheery deliver of “We’re fucked” from Feelin’ French or the ultra=casual delivery of “But if we die, we die together” from Corner. The bass-heavy synth gives the entire album a danceable vibe. This is truly dance music for the darkest timeline.
Favorite song: Automatic Perfection
Honorable Mentions:
Laska “Fader”
Gramma “Supertrend”
Double Grave “Echinacea”
Ludu “The Devil Inside”
Drey DK “Peace of Mind”
EVV “Gemini”
Joe Bartel “Anhedonia”
Lobster Planet “I Don’t Want to Die Yet”
Girls Camp “It’s Hip to be Sad”
Tuvok the Word “Tuvok the Third”
In Lieu “Edible E.P.”
Justin Courtney Pierre “An Anthropologist on Mars”
Paul’s Favorite EPs
Glass Eyes “Liminality”
The Nu-Metal band Glass Eyes formed at the start of 2021 and took the first part of the year to find their sound. Finally, in the last month of the year, “Liminality” was ready to be shared, and it came out swinging. Five blistering, ear-bleeding, head-banging tracks for the band's inaugural release punched their way into my top five.
Related Article: Glass Eyes "Liminality" Preview
Knucky ”POV”
Knucky dropped “POV” at the height of the summer heat, most likely to match the EP’s ferocity. The 17-minute project dishes out a collection of lyrics simultaneously flexing while displaying grief and struggle over high-energy instrumentation. “POV” certainly put Knucky on my radar from 2021 and beyond.
Related Article: Knucky "POV" Review
Nacho Suave “Ignacio EP”
Nacho Suave’s “Ignacio EP” came in the earlier batch of extended plays for 2021, but it’s held its weight to the bitter end. The “Ignacio EP” marks a pivotal point in Nacho’s career, finding an outlet in beat production. With two instrumentals from his collection, along with five from Minnesota Cold and labelmate Jake PM, Nacho shares a project of greater focus and growth with the “Ignacio EP.”
Related Article: NACHO SUAVE "IGNACIO EP" REVIEW
Phillip Saint John “Sun Indigo”
Looking up the sky gives one a different perspective after listening to Philip Saint John’s EP “Sun Indigo.” The Southside artist and emcee throws a splash of indigo to the heavens as he paints pictures of the pseudo-war-torn streets near 38th & Chicago. PSJ’s depicts his and his community’s pain and perseverance over crisp, inviting vocals and busy-but-warming symphonies.
Related Article: Philip Saint John's "Sun Indigo" Review
Durry’s Collection of 2021 Singles
The recent arrival of the contemporary garage-rock band Durry in 2021 didn’t bring a cohesive project, but their slew of singles sure plays like one. Most of us stumbled across Durry’s feel-good loser’s ballad “Who’s Laughing Now” earlier in the year on Twitter or Tik Tok. The roughly optimistic but objective subject matter, paired groovy and poignant chords, give every music listener something to sing along with amid an anxious and apathetic reality. Durry’s familiar, but original sound is much anticipated in 2022.
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Reviews by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03, James Adamiak, Writer @RisingPathMusic, Andrew Perrizo, Owner @PlaylistTC
Edited by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03, Andrew Perrizo, Owner @PlaylistTC
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