Top 10 EPs of 2015

There have been a lot of great punk EPs released in 2015. Here are my top ten of them.

10. Modern Baseball - The Perfect Cast

This EP felt like it came out of nowhere. In the summer Modern Baseball pulled out of some festivals and tour dates so bandmember Brendan could deal with some mental health problems. During that time away they wrote this strikingly honest EP about living with mental health issues. 

9. Spineless Yes Men - The Death Of Denmark

I randomly met some members of Spineless Yes Men on the tube after a Red City Radio gig and they told me about their band. When I got home and listened to this EP I fell in love with the sing-along pop punk. It had me reminiscing about growing up listening to Drive Thru Records pop punk bands such as Allister and Home Grown.

8. WACO - Sundown

WACO are one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. In all honesty I didn't expect to enjoy this band as much as I have this year. Sundown features five punk rock gems perfect for singing along with your friends. Agitation is one of the very best songs of the year.

7. The Fur Coats - Short-Brain

I first discovered The Fur Coats through a Make-That-A-Take Records compilation and I was hooked. This is brilliantly fun and unique pop punk music; lead singer Marc Ruvolo has a brilliantly distinctive voice.

6. The Kimberly Steaks - Chemical Imbalance

Scotland's three-piece pop punks released a great EP that I feel is about the journey you go on when you are struggling with your mental health. Combining Ramonescore with early 90s Lookout Records pop punk, The Kimberly Steaks have become one of the most talked about bands in the genre. There is also a fantastic cover of Something Good by Herman's Herbits.

5. River Jumpers - River Jumpers

2015 was quite a year for Brighton's River Jumpers. They had an almost complete line-up change and became a five piece instead of a four. Before all this change they released a new self-titled EP, which is classic River Jumpers, containing five brilliant melodic punk tracks that will have you singing along in no time at all.

3 & 4. Less Deceived - Average Songs About The Best Days Of Our Lives/It'll Never Get Better Than This

Hull's Less Deceived have had a very prolific year, releasing two of the best EPs of the year. They are both so good I couldn't pick between them on this list so they are having two places on it! Less Deceived play gruff-voiced, melodic punk that will have you singing and throwing your fists in the air in equal measure. This band have the potential to be absolutely massive!

2. Forever Unclean - Shreds!

Denmark's Forever Unclean are another wonderful find that I discovered through Make-That-A-Take Records. They got announced for the label’s Book Yer Ane Fest so I checked them out and became hooked on the EP Shreds! Shreds! is a six song EP containing some fantastic fast and furious skate punk. The band barely pause for breath throughout and the whole thing is incredibly catchy. Absolutely fantastic live as well.

1. The Briggs - The Briggs

I may have missed something but The Briggs seemed to come out of absolutely nowhere with a brand new self-titled EP this year. I have adored the LA based band for years now and had kind of given up hope on any new material from the band. Then I saw on Bandcamp that this EP had been released and I was super excited and then slightly worried that it wouldn't live up to my high expectations of the band. I had no need to worry though, as The Briggs released an absolute classic of an EP. It's a more grown-up sounding Briggs than we're used to, focusing more on intelligent lyrics and musicianship than they perhaps have in the past. Every song is amazing, now here's hoping they find their way back to the UK so I can finally see them live.