I could spit on a stranger.

I can’t sleep because I kept thinking about that Jonestown Mass Suicide/Murder that I’ve read in Wikipedia. It’s scary, really. What’s not scary is my list of the Best EPs/demos that I’ve encountered this year. The list would be short. I promise. 2 demos, 2 awesome DIY local EPs, and an excellent excellent EP that’s sure to make you shed emotears.

5 Best EPs this 2007
(in no particular order)

1. Algernon Cadwallader – Self Titled

Pronounced as “al-jur-non kad-wall-uh-der” according to teh band’s Myspace, Algernon Cadwallader’s 4-track demo is a wonderful mix-mash of intricate mathematic guitar arrangements and chaotic vocals (half of the time, I can’t even understand what the fuck they’re singing about). It feels like a really crazy twin version of American Football with Tim Kinsella on vocals (which translates to either: Joan of Arc or Owls). One thing that’s obvious about Algernon’s demo: they really love being screamotional, eh?

Recommended Tracks: Demo’s good, get a free download over here.

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2. Tigers Are Out, Bears Are In – Groups of Domesticated Kittens Are Referred To As Kindles

I’m only putting it here because they’re my friends. Haha, kidding. No seriously, besides being my friends (Tomi, Ciciboy, RJ, PJ, TJ, Maria, and Perri) they’re an awesome mic stand-wrecking band. Besides the fact that I heavily used their song Downtown in my short, they’ve got 5 other “emo anthems” that is sure to make your mind numb. I usually dismiss songs with a lot of screaming, but with TAOBAI, I put my inhibitions aside and just let my ears bleed. Tomi is screaming and Francis is throwing quotes from a book at the audience–could anything be more aweseomer?

Another amazing random fact about the EP: it was recorded at ABS-CBN. Oh ha! Sosyal! According to Tomi, it’s their own way of sticking it up to teh Man. According to me, they only did it because it’s free. BUY THIS EP! It’s superfuckingindie!

Recommended Tracks: No downloading. Buy this shit! TAOBAI will tour with Kias Fansuri, Eucalypt and Justkneeta this January. It’s a weekend of endless fun at Paranaque, Calamba and Manila! Click this for moar details.

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3. Street Smart Cyclist – 7″ demo

On and again with the math. Street Smart Cyclist’s short demo (3 songs, yo!) has about everything that would make you remind of earlier acts with grandiose pop-punk sensibilities. It somehow felt like listening to Cap’n Jazz but with a more chaotic feel. Much like Algernon, it has its moments with the band’s screamotional abilities (which again, I couldn’t understand a word). It’s short and it’s fun with songs like Hoods Up! (gang vocals, clapping, and all!) that makes you want to raise your fist in the air and then quickly punch the one pushing you out of the pit.

Recommended Tracks: The demo’s short, I recommend all the tracks.

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4. Cocolulu – 8 Bit Love + Singles

Mark Redito is just one of teh many awesome people that I met while being one with the Purokaindie Collective. During the day, he works at an office in his longsleeves and can be seen roaming around Festival Mall during his breaks. But Mark has an amazing alter-ego: He’s Cocolulu (well, formerly Cocolulu. He’s now known as SPAZZKID)

Completely produced using Mark’s computer, it’s amazing how various cut-and-paste blip-blops could turn into insanely-dancable tracks and electronica wonders. It’s my soundtrack whenever I’m alone in my room, and I just want to jump and make a spur-of-teh-moment dance. Seriously, this is one wild EP, and I am so glad that I have it tucked within the comfort of my CD collection.

Hoy Mark, hindi kita nilagay dito dahil friends tayo. Nilagay kita dito ‘cuz yer such a fine lovah. Hahaha!

Recommended Tracks: I Need A Reformat, Run For Your Lives, Running Off, and of course, my all-time favorite Cocolulu song: Blinding Light. All songs (including new ones) can be downloaded on Mark’s Multiply.

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5. Empire! Empire! (I was a lonely estate) – When The Sea Became A Giant

Hands down, the best EP I’ve encountered this year. The 5-track EP, When The Sea Became A Giant was recorded, written, and produced by Keith Latinen and Latinen alone. But since then, it evolved into a full band.

What I loved about Empire! Empire! is how it reminded me of bands that I grew to love over the course of this year. I shed my emo-punk sensibility and transcended towards earlier indie-emo acts (specifically 90’s midwest emo) Over teh course of the entire year, I started listening to bands that I somehow missed before. Bands like Mineral, American Football, The Appleseed Cast. These were the bands that emerged while I was immersed in my Pop-phase (Spice Girls, Nsync, those kinds of trash).

It was Empire! Empire! (a relatively new band) that satisfied my hunger for slow tempos, soft melodies, honest lyrics, and intricate guitars. Factors that were present in the earlier bands. Somehow, the EP managed to sound unpolished adding a bit of that DIY-feel that most albums like American Football’s self titled LP had. Keith’s vocals has a whispery feel which adds a lot of emotions to his songs. It’s as if his songs were little earnest secrets being whispered to your ear. And I fucking loved it. Seriously, not one song is wasted on this EP.

I’ll quote a review of the EP on this one: “Beautiful melodies and off-rhythms that are seemingly guaranteed to shine a light on your broken heart and let you know that you’re not the only one“

You hear that, you’re not the only one.

Recommended Tracks: Everything on it.

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There you go everyone! There’s the five DIY-EPs of the year that proves that being indie is so much fun! Go DIY! I swear to god, once these guys produce full-length albums, they’re bound to be awesome!