Dirty Projector’s ‘5EPs’
This year has played out like a boxing match that’s gone on for too long. Whether we’re talking mental health, politics, or industry, the state of things conjures images of swollen eyelids and spit buckets collecting lost teeth and blood. It’s been rough for everyone.
To stay sane and healthy, we’ve needed to rely on the little things to get us by: favourite meals, time spent with family, zoom dates with friends. Music has helped too, and one trend this year was the gift that kept on giving - the rebirth of the EP.
Now, the EP never really died. Artists and bands have released their extended-plays to the world since the ‘50s, and despite numerous physical and digital format transitions, mini albums have never stopped dropping. But the rise of streaming services and the declining attention spans of audiences have brought what used to be super-fan fodder to a prominence not seen in decades.
It’s been especially successful this year as artists have had to rely almost solely on recordings to connect to listeners. Some took advantage of the small batch song collection by releasing a number of them throughout the year. Paramore’s Hayley Williams released her LP, Petals for Armor, in two pieces earlier this year, K-pop fans took in two short releases from girl group LOONA, and we’ve received four Reality Refresh EPs from Teen Daze, just to name a few. Dirty Projector’s submissions were also a welcome highlight, and their decision to package them together as 5EPs could not have come at a better time.
What worked particularly well for the five-piece band was their decision to keep the music and lyrics on every release positive and exploratory. Whether offering tropical, hula-hip-hop vibes on March’s Windows Open, searching for self awareness on June’s labrynthian Flight Tower, or returning to their joyous David Byrne-inspired roots on this month’s collection-closing Ring Road, Dirty Projectors kept pace with us throughout the year, offering small doses of therapy with their encouraging words and DIY aesthetic.
We should’ve seen the 5EPs repackaging plan coming, with the art museum perusal cover art (remember doing that? I miss doing that) forcing second glances to make sure we have the newest release cued up. But the best part of the surprise might be the two physical formats: an extremely econmical two-disc option, and a vinyl collector’s saliva-inducing five-disc box set. Whovever made that marketing decision deserves a hefty Christmas bonus.
Come on, Domino Records, cough it up.
