Rapid Fire Reviews: EPs Come, EPs Go

About once a month it is time to quickly clean up a series of EPs that come out and I don't have the time to specifically write full reviews of them, or they're so short that this format works better anyway. These are that, and they're also actually pretty good. 

All In - Skepta

Since Skepta released his mixed reviewed 2019 record Ignorance Is Bliss he has shown up on a few features, dropped a collaborative album last year that rolled up on the short side and then released this EP. It actually gets off to a pretty good start with the hard-hitting Bellator but most of the talk surrounding the record were on the next two tracks which sport features from Kid Cudi and J Balvin respectively. Unfortunately Peace Of Mind is an ugly mess with Cudi and Skepta competing for who can deliver the worst sung vocal and they're somehow both winning. The overbearing beat is the final ingredient of the annoying cocktail that spins into something absolutely rotten. Even though I don't love Nirvana with J Balvin it is a much more digestible song with smooth flows and a reserved rattling beat. While it fails to really make any lasting impression it is pleasant while it's on. The EPs final two tracks on back to Skepta's formula and he does it well. With the up tempo flows and unmistakable vocal delivery he rides some banger beats with hard-hitting percussion excellently. Both songs are also full of both hilarious quotables and some incredibly cold double entendres. Overall there are some pretty great tracks on this EP but it's unfortunate that when Skepta steps outside his comfort zone it doesn't go great. 6.5/10

Meanwhile - Gorillaz

This is something I didn't expect. Damon Albarn seemed like he was in full on solo mode with his upcoming album being one of my most anticipated of the year and then out of nowhere comes a trio of new Gorillaz tracks. While it would be easy to label these as Song Machine leftovers I don't think it's that simple because these two studio cuts and one live recording have a consistent sound between them that definitely feels purposeful. What they share is an island flare with reggae tinged instrumentation all over. I drastically prefer the pair of studio cuts to the very hokey live recording. Each of the first two songs sport a pretty solid feature and in fact Alicai Harley does her best on the live track but it never really gets past some silly songwriting and even sillier instrumentation. With Gorillaz it really feels like they can try anything and this was a lane that's certainly well worth exploring. 7/10

Bloodslide - Bloodslide

Bloodslide is a super group made up of a pair of post-punk greats with the drummer of Preoccupations and guitarist from Protomartyr, teaming up with AJ Lambert AKA Nancy Sinatra's daughter on vocals. They first grabbed my attention with an impressive debut single in Pica a heavy plodding post-punk rager that I still love to this day. The next two singles weren't quite as impressive compositionally but the instrumental talent involved is clear. The drumming on MVP is epic and adds a ton of grandeur to the songs bold compositional ambitions. On Trap Door its the guitar that takes the reigns guiding it through a shorter few minutes with hazy hard-hitting riffs. The EP ends off with it's brightest song which is fittingly a Nancy Sinatra cover. I've come around to all of these tracks since first hearing them and the results feel really impressive. While there isn't anything that I think necessarily sets Bloodslide drastically apart from some of their contemporaries, the talent involved is so apparent I can't help but love these songs and the EP that thrives at its start and finish as a result. 7.5/10