As a preview to my top albums of the first half of 2006, here’s some of my favorite EPs that have been released so far this year. It’s by no means a complete list, as I still haven’t listened to some major ones, but it’s as close as I can come. As always, you’re encouraged to share your favorites that I left off. This is a learning experience for me too, remember!

Here they are in some vague semblance of order.

Grumpy Bear – Songs From The Abattoir

MP3: Grumpy Bear – Luis Bunuel

This cover art looked so goofy that I almost didn’t even open this EP when I received it in the mail. Honestly, how can you take a band seriously when their album looks like this? After playing through it once, I realized that you don’t have to. Grumpy Bear are not out to change the world with their music. They play to entertain you, but more importantly it’s clear that they’re playing for themselves. Songs like “Luis Bunuel” are at once folksy and quirky, all loaded with humor. For instance, the song’s namesake was a famous director who had once scene with the mutilation of an eyeball. In the song, the chorus begs the question, “how you gonna catch my eye?” Classic.

Grumpy Bear’s site
Grumpy Bear on Myspace
Order “Songs From The Abattoir” for $5

Bishop Allen – February

MP3: Bishop Allen – Vain

It’s weird to see one of your favorite bands transform right before your eyes. With their new EP-a-month project, Bishop Allen are basically allowing us to track their progression over an entire year. While the initial shock on “January” was that they’d added a piano, “February” blew everyone away by proving that they had grown leaps and bounds since Charm School. This EP saw Justin’s continued growth as both a pianist and the author of some of the best narrative lyrics that any band today could claim. Sure, all his characters might not be winners (“The News From Your Bed’s” protagonist, for example), but they’re all sympathetic and even relatable.

Bishop Allen’s site
Bishop Allen on Myspace
Buy “February” for $5

Page France – Sister Pinecone

MP3: Page France – Antarctica (My Beloved Home)

“Prolific” is a word that I might toss around a bit too loosely here on You Aint No Picasso. Still, there are three people or groups that I could not mean it more when I use it to describe them: Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal, Justin Rice and Christian Rudder of Bishop Allen, and Michael Nau of Page France. After releasing two albums in less than two years, Michael and co. announced that they’d be putting out a pair of EPs. “Sister Pinecone,” the second of the two, relies more on piano and acoustic than the Rhodes of “Pear.”

Page France’s site
Page France on Myspace
Buy “Sister Pinecone” and “Pear” together for $12

Page France – Pear

MP3: Page France – Talking Out-Louds

When Page France played in Lexington in January, Michael told me the EPs would heavily feature a Rhodes, a la Margo Guryan, I was a bit scared. If you’ve got a good thing going, why risk messing it up? A few short months later, “Pear” answered my question. I don’t know if they were out to prove that they weren’t one-trick ponies, but they did all that and more on this one. From the opening “Million Man Money Hand” to the closing “Say Wolf In the Summertime,” they push the bounderies on their fan’s expectations. I swear, from now on I’ll trust Michael to do whatever he wants. He’s the genius, I’m just the blogger.

Page France’s site
Page France on Myspace
Buy “Sister Pinecone” and “Pear” together for $12

Bishop Allen – May

MP3: Bishop Allen – Butterfly Nets

Few of the EPs so far have retained any real ties to their respective months, but “May” was the one that finally broke that trend. Sure, I could see myself listening to January when I want to remember how it was at the beginning of 2006, but “May” will be appropriate music for any summer. It’s both tender and gentle, and not too powerful. Actually, I take that back. If you think a beautiful face can send you reeling just as much as a punch to the gut, you’ll understand the way that “May” is a powerful EP.

Bishop Allen’s site
Bishop Allen on Myspace
Buy “May” for $5

Voxtrot – Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives

MP3: Voxtrot – Mothers Sisters Daughters & Wives

I initially missed jumping on the Voxtrot bandwagon, but after giving WRFL’s copy a spin on air, I was hooked. There’s a spark that band few bands have. It’s a combination of originality, skill and an internal drive to create. The Clash had it. Wire had it. The Talking Heads probably had enough of it to share. And I could be wrong, but I think Voxtrot might have it too. It’s a big comparison to make, but I think this EP only hints at what they’re capable of. If they keep on the path they’re making, they could be one of the best bands out there before too long.

Voxtrot’s site
Voxtrot on Myspace
Order “Mothers Daughters Sisters and Wives for $7

The Electric Soft Parade – The Human Body EP

MP3: The Electric Soft Parade – Cold World

Another EP that I first heard thanks to WRFL. Man, what would I do without that station? “The Human Body EP” was apparently a bit of a departure for The Electric Soft Parade, but I didn’t notice. I mean, “Cold World” was my first exposure to the band. And what an experience that was. I’s half piano-pop and and half melody-driven vocal performance. But the EP as a whole has more than enough variety to please just about everyone out there. Guitars fight with piano and vocals for your attention, but in the end it’s the listener who emerges as the winner. After all, with something this good, how could you not?

The Electric Soft Parade’s site
The Electric Soft Parade on Myspace
Buy “The Human Body EP” for $9

The Lucksmiths – A Hiccup In Your Happiness

MP3: The Lucksmiths – From Macaulay Station

This EP/single kicks off with one of the Lucksmith’s best opening lines: “the start is the hardest part.” While true, you’d never know it from listening to this collection of songs. The Lucksmiths make writing heart-touchingly great songs look as easy as your ABCs. Of particular note is “From Macaulay Station,” an uplifting, yet somber tune that tells of better times ahead. Everyone needs a friend like The Lucksmiths in their life to remind them that everything is okay. And while I’ll never know them personally, this EP is a close substitute.

The Lucksmiths’ site
The Lucksmiths on Myspace
Buy “A Hiccup In Your Happiness” for $5