Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'ep'

Joe Pug On Mountain Stage

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:40:00 EST

Joe Pug's captivating voice and thoughtful storytelling immediately and understandably draw comparisons to a young Bob Dylan. On his first appearance at Mountain Stage, Pug performs selections from his debut EP, Nation of Heat.

Cian Nugent: 'Knots'

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:14:00 EST

Cian Nugent is a 19-year-old guitarist from Dublin, Ireland who self-released his debut EP in 2007 and has followed it up this year with the live EP, Childhood, Christian Lies and Slaughter. Inspired by acoustic guitar legends such as John Fahey, Nugent plays instrumental folk pieces heavy with nostalgia for early 20th-century American music.

Joseph Arthur: Nonstop Rock

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:20:00 EST

Joseph Arthur has had a busy 2008. The singer-songwriter and painter has released four EPs and one full-length album, Temporary People, this year alone. Arthur talks about his new releases, his music style and the differences between music and painting.

TAB the Band: 'Backseat Lover'

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:02:00 EDT

For a group that has been around less than two years, TAB the Band knows how to rock hard. Brothers Tony and Adrian Perry teamed up with friend Ben Tileston to form TAB (an acronym of their first names) at the start of 2007, and things have come together quickly for the trio. They've since released two EPs and two full-length albums, the latest of which is Long Weekend.

Joe Pug: 'Hymn #101'

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:22:00 EDT

One of the most surprising facts about Chicago, Ill.-based singer/songwriter Joe Pug is that he's only 23 years old. Not only does his voice sound beautifully mature, but the lyrics on Pug's debut EP, Nation of Heat, possess a wisdom seemingly beyond his age.

Love In October: 'Petrula The Destroyer'

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:35:00 EDT

Swedish-born brothers Erik and Kent Widman formed Love in October in 2006, after moving to Minneapolis, Minn. The following year, the band released its Words of Sound EP before following it up with the full-length Pontus, the Devil, and Me at the start of 2008. Rounded out by Nik Pfeifer on guitar and Brian Boesen on drums, Love in October is the sort of group that fans of Top 40 pop-punk have longed for. Pontus, the Devil, and Me features the spirited energy, rocking guitars and irresistible hooks of the genre, but with more thoughtful execution and clever songwriting.

Great Bloomers: 'Catching Up'

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:06:00 EDT

The Great Bloomers are a rootsy, rock quintet based out of Toronto, Canada who, earlier this year, released a self-titled debut EP. Today's featured song, "Catching Up," opens up the EP and showcases a healthy admiration for the Beach Boys, who happen to be one of the Great Bloomers' biggest influences.

Antony And The Johnsons, Old School Soul, Cuban Jazz, And More

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:32:00 EDT

It's been three years since Antony and the Johnsons released a CD. The band is back with a new EP featuring the strangely haunting voice of frontman Antony Hegarty. Hear "Shake the Devil" from Another World. Also on the show: a live recording of the Buena Vista Social Club performing at Carnegie Hall; old school soul from singer Raphael Saadiq; the vivid imagery of singer David Eugene Edwards and Woven Hand; songwriter Scott Jared, a music therapist by day and Super XX Man by night; and a wrecking ball of an album from the Athens, GA band Dead Confederate.

Dark Captain Light Captain: 'Walls'

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:53:00 EDT

East London's Dark Captain Light Captain is preparing to release its full-length debut, Miracle Kicker, later this month, but in the meantime listeners can get a taste of the band's whispy, experimental folk style with the four-song Circles EP.

John Meeks: 'I See Your Lips'

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:08:00 EDT

John Meeks has been playing and recording for 15 years, but his new Three Song Demo is the pre-release EP to his first full-length album, due out this Fall. It isn't as if Meeks has spent more than a decade trying to come up with some complex musical formula. In fact, what is so compelling about Meeks' music is his simple, straightforward approach. The three acoustic, country-twinged songs are free of artifice, aren't overly produced or orchestrated, and sound effortless.

Sarah Sharp: 'Euphoria'

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:31:00 EDT

Sarah Sharp's soft spoken singing style and quiet instrumentations offer a living room, fireside closeness that keeps her away from the lounge-singer stereotypes of similarly jazz-influenced performers. With her new six-song EP, Fight or Flight, the singer-songwriter from Austin, Tex has created a lounge-pop sound that is intimate and pleasant without seeming trite.

The Bloodsugars: 'Purpose Was Again'

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:12:00 EDT

The Bloodsugars's sound is either a descendent of the best aspects of '80s synth rockers or the offspring of trance and power pop. The Brookyln-based foursome takes radio-ready melodies and power chord guitar rock and blends them with dance floor beats, keyboards, and synths. The group's debut EP, BQEP, rides on the neon glow of its six tightly wound pop songs riddled with hooks.

In Cadeo: 'The Archer'

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:12:00 EDT

Jared Scott and Pete Sustarsic recorded In Cadeo's five-song self-titled EP as a studio project with help from friends before the band ever had a proper lineup. Given the grunge-pop sound of "The Archer," the anthemic piano-driven rock of "This Side The Grave" and the slow build-up and cathartic climax of "Communist Lecture," the band proves commanding despite its fledgling nature.

We Were Pirates: 'Nervous'

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:48:00 EDT

These days, all it takes to make great music is a laptop and a mic. That said, it doesn't hurt if you also have a voice that channels Ben Gibbard, not to mention a keen sense for layering electronic blips and synths with real instruments. Mike Boggs, aka We Were Pirates, recorded his debut five-song EP, The Wolf, on his trusty iBook using the program GarageBand and two microphones. The homespun product is soft, beautifully textured electronic pop perfectly tailored for headphones listening.

Twin Tigers: 'Red Fox Run'

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:50:00 EDT

Athens, Georgia band Twin Tigers may have only been around a short time but they are already getting recognized as yet another great band to come out of the well-know music town. Their self-released debut EP, Curious Faces Violet Future is a fierce and brooding, yet melodic collection of songs that shows great promise for future efforts.

Tall Tales and the Silver Lining: 'Sister and Mother'

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:30:00 EDT

The songs of Tall Tales and the Silver Lining ramble down leafy paths through cool forests and dive headlong into the ocean. It's a carefree mix of country folk, with simple guitar strums that mingle playfully with spare rhythms and sweet harmonies. The Ventura, Calif. band's latest release is the uplifting Earthling EP, a cozy set of songs inspired by life in Big Sur, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise from the Pacific.

Noble Three: 'I Would Run'

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:32:00 EDT

The music of Noble Three is filled with longing. Hearts are broken, days are lonely, promises are broken. But the Nashville, Tenn. duo tempers their melancholy with an infectious dose of finger snaps and claps, bouncing rhythms and tinkling pianos. Their debut EP, Shipwrecked, is both breezy and haunted, with gently plucked guitars and incredibly rich harmonies.

A Tale of Two New Hampshire Towns

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:57:00 EST

Since 1952, two New Hampshire towns have accurately voted for the Republican or Democratic candidate who goes on to win the primaries statewide. In Epping, voters have predicted who would win the Democratic primary; in Newmarket, they've predicted the Republican winner.

Howard Hello: 'Lazy'

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:05:00 EDT

Kenseth Thibideau collaborates with Marty Anderson (Okay, Dilute) on an intimate project they call Howard Hello. They recorded their EP with additional musicians including Amber Coffman of the Dirty Projectors to produce beautifully ambient, acoustic and electronic pop.

Tacks, The Boy Disaster: 'Man With a Plan'

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:03:00 EDT

Tacks, The Boy Disaster make dreamy art-pop with gentle rhythms, lush production and sweetly hypnotic harmonies. The Austin, TX quartet's debut EP, Oh, Beatrice, is a warm, blissful head trip scored by jangly pianos, swirling guitars and ambient sound effects.

Sea Wolf: Intimate Pop Finds an Experimental Side

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:24:00 EDT

On his debut EP, Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low, Sea Wolf's Alex Brown Church puts his skills to good use on a collection of delicate, timeless pop songs. At times, the disc recalls classic '70s and '80s songwriters like Mark Knopfler and Tom Petty.

'Death at the Chapel': A Horror Film in Miniature

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:19:00 EST

The Horrors' members look like the Cure and sound a bit like The Cramps, so it's no surprise that their music, their message and their clothing are plenty dark. Their self-titled debut EP delivers a 15-minute blast of chaotic garage-punk suitable for seedy clubs and very short Halloween parties.

The Changes: The Makings of a Breakthrough

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:16:00 EST

Blending bouncy, new-wave-inspired rock with hooky keyboards and jazzy rhythms, The Changes' Today Is Tonight has all the makings of a major breakthrough. After forming in 2002 and releasing a pair of EPs, the band found itself at the center of major buzz and soon played at the 2005 Lollapalooza festival.

Cold War Kids: Indie-Rock Writ Large

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:58:00 EDT

The Cold Wars Kids' members put themselves on the indie-rock map the hard way: through constant touring, a few EPs and word of mouth. The band's first full-length , Robbers & Cowards, contains a number of songs re-recorded from earlier EPs, including fan favorites "Hang Me Up To Dry" and "Hospital Beds."

Jaxx Scratch Back with 'Crazy Itch Radio'

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:21:00 EDT

A decade ago, Basement Jaxx couldn't get a record label interested in releasing the group's first EP. Fast forward to 2005: Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, the producers behind the Jaxx sound, are a global phenomenon in the dance music scene.