I Don't Hear A Single Top 20 EPs Of 2023

 


2023 is brought to a close with The Top 20 EPs Of The Year. There may be more 2023 releases covered in the early part of 2024, but as for the ramped up Social Media and Countdowns, they all end here. For each EP a song is embedded from the release and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the EP.

1 Svenssen - Falling Out Of Fashion     IDHAS REVIEW

2 Half Catholic - Art In Heaven     IDHAS REVIEW

3 The Chase - Bonzo Bonanza     IDHAS REVIEW

4 Pretty - Citrus Magic    IDHAS REVIEW

5 Jonesy - Doppelgangbangers    IDHAS REVIEW

6 Leon In The Wild - Leon In The Wild     IDHAS REVIEW

7 Movie Jail - Movie Jail   IDHAS REVIEW

8 Råttanson - Trebled Region     IDHAS REVIEW

9 The Popguns - Popism     IDHAS REVIEW

10 Bitter Defeat - Terrific Effort    IDHAS REVIEW

11 Fuzziliers - Would You Believe     IDHAS REVIEW

12 Mansfield - Come Rain Or Shine     IDHAS REVIEW

13 The Vapour Trails - On A Beautiful Day     IDHAS REVIEW

14 Gizmo - Buddy System    IDHAS REVIEW

15 Finn's Motel - Last Year's Leaves      IDHAS REVIEW

16 Rick Kingo - The Truths, The Lies, The Lot    IDHAS REVIEW

17 Dennis Davison - Creaturefeature       IDHAS REVIEW

18 Carl Green In Particular - Off Balance       IDHAS REVIEW

19 Shangri-Lass - Over & Over      IDHAS REVIEW

20 Modern Rituals - Razed      IDHAS REVIEW

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Bitter Defeat - Terrific Effort EP

 

New Zealand used to be known as the home of Indie Pop, you may even call it Twee at times but all that has all changed over recent years. There is now a wave of melodic, predominantly Guitar Pop, but certainly interesting sounds coming from the two islands. 

Welcome to Bitter Defeat, a five piece from Hamilton, who offer up melodic Guitar Pop Rock that lifts the soul. All four songs follow different avenues without ever looking as though this is an obvious effort to show versatility and variety.

Sugar Blind is great Power Pop and certainly knows which buttons to press providing a cracking example of what is great about the genre. Yet, Falling Down is a much rockier affair. It is an urgent form of Brit Pop with a blistering riff throughout.

Pressure is simply wonderful. A vibe of 60s Beat at its heart, but with an additional feel of Psych Pop and a vocal that could grace 70s Pop Rock. Waft is a splendid instrumental that just rocks your socks off with its mixture of Fuzz and out and out Classic Rock. This is a magnificent EP, you just wish there was more. Hopefully, we may get an album in the near future. 

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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