TOP 10 E.Ps OF 2013

1. MOOSE BLOOD - MOVING HOME
Possibly my favourite discovery of the year, Moose Blood have got me swooning over their lyrics, while their unique style of pop-punk sweetens my ears. Moving Home is an ideal teaser for what the Canterbury based boys have to offer. There are no surprises, no standout moments, just six tracks that are bloody marvellous.

Favourite Track: Evening Coffee



2. FORT HOPE - CHOICES
It may only be three tracks long, but it's got enough oomph in it to leave a lasting impression. New Life in particular stands out for me because of the huge, uplifting chorus and pounding drums. 2014 is certainly going to be an interesting year for Fort Hope.

Favourite Track: New Life



3. AMBER RUN - NOAH
After gracing the BBC introducing stage at Reading and Leeds Festival this year, Amber Run quickly became a favourite band of mine. With fast-paced rhythms and catchy melodies, they frequently soundtrack my days.  Noah is a beautifully written EP, with piano highlights and harmonies to warm your heart.

Favourite Track: Noah


4. LEWIS WATSON - FOUR MORE SONGS
This little chap has one of the loveliest voices around, and one of the most humbling artists to hit the spotlight. Four More Songs is well, four more songs from the British solo artist, about summer nights and old school romance. Stick the kettle on, listen to the EP and feel the cosiness surround you.

Favourite Track: Calling


5. WE THE WILD - VOL.1
You may recognise that voice as Ant West, singer-songwriter extraordinaire known for his time spent in Tonight is Goodbye and Futures. Now, he's teamed up with ex-bandmate Casey Roarty to form We The Wild and their Vol.1 EP is a simple taste for what is to come from the duo.
Favourite Track: Float

6. GUNNING FOR TAMAR - CAMERA LUCIDA
Rewind back to May and I was down my local haunt with a pint of cider watching the Alcopop Records alternative Great Escape Festival. There, I met the guys in Gunning for Tamar. Already a fan of their music, we all somehow became great pals and they released a super ace EP. Camera Lucida proves how completely underrated this band are, they have a unique sound of distorted riffs and vocals that just blend so incredibly well.

Favourite Track: Yogging

7. HEY VANITY - BREATHE, BLEED, GROW
Essex boys at their best, Hey Vanity were an early discovery of mine after catching them on tour with Don Broco in February. Vocalist Marc Halls has a gritty tone that matches perfectly with the punchy chords in the tracks featured on the Breathe, Bleed, Grow EP.

Favourite Track: Wading Through Dreams

8. MMX - HEIR
It was difficult to choose between the two EPs that MMX released this year, however Heir just about takes the crown. Heir is three tracks of haunting vocals and flowing ambient/indie sounds that just make some of the most enchanting tracks I've ever heard. If there ever was 'baby making music' this would be it.

Favourite Track: Tremor

9. SAINT RAYMOND - ESCAPADE
I dare you to stick this EP on and not feel an instant lift in your mood. Guitar twangs with summery, upbeat vibes and Saint Raymond (otherwise known as Callum, FYI) with his unique vocal tone that always brings a smile to my face.

Favourite Track: Fall at Your Feet

10. REAL FRIENDS - PUT YOURSELF BACK TOGETHER
Oh I love me some good American pop-punk. Real Friends are levelling up there with The Story So Far in the list of my fave pop-punkers. Even-though the first few bars of the EP sounds like a Bryan Adams song and each track is written about heartbreak from a male perspective, it's the perfect EP to shout/air drum a long too, guaranteed.

Favourite Track: Late Nights in My Car

What are your favourite E.Ps of 2013?

Sunday Sound #8

I've been a busy bee this week, hopping up to London again, going to and fro' work. Setting up the new blog (see previous post) and generally trying to sort a few things out in my life! Of course though, I've had a soundtrack along my way and here's one of my more recent favourites...

Hey Vanity

There seems to be a bit of a theme running with these posts and the bands I feature. Hey Vanity formed after the demise of a band called Fei Comodo last year. Hailing from Chelmsford in Essex, the boys are still fairly new to the circuit and are building up a strong reputation for themselves. 

2013 has been named as the year for rock music and guitar bands, many are sneaking their way up the radio playlists, bands like Fall Out Boy are making their return and arms are held wide open for new bands with an exciting sound. Hey Vanity certainly fit into the latter, they've got the punchy guitar rhythms that'll have your body moving in all sorts of directions, superb vocals with a gritty tone to them and a handful of tracks that prove their worth amongst all the other guitar bands gracing the airwaves at the moment.

If you've been to one of the recent Don Broco tour dates, as well as catching the brilliant Mallory Knox, you would have seen the Hey Vanity boys tearing things up at the beginning of the night, (if you stood at the bar ignoring their set, then you are quite simply stupid). There's a sure way to win over a crowd who perhaps haven't heard of you before and that is with a cover. Hey Vanity have put their own spin on the pop hit Hey Ya! by Outkast, which is absolutely bloody fantastic and yes, I have been shakin' it all over the place since hearing it. So if you see me with a grin on my face and my bum having a wiggle, I'm probably listening to this. It's pure genius. 

Keep an eye on these guys over the next few months as I have no doubt they'll be getting the success they deserve. 

For Fans Of: Mallory Knox, Lower Than Atlantis, Straight Lines

Find Them Here: http://heyvanityuk.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/HeyVanityUK