It’s hard to believe but 2021 is officially only four weeks from its big finale. One can only hope that moving forward from here into 2022, that sooner rather than later, we’ll finally be rid of this COVID-19 crap and life can finally go back to what it was. Time will tell. In the meantime, this critic has checked over his calendar for the year’s waning weeks, and surprisingly, there are no more new EPs to go through for the year. That means it is finally time to start in on this year’s “best of” year-ender lists. Of course, as in every year past, the very first of those lists comes in the form of the smallest of the music releases noted.
This year’s list of new EPs features new releases from at least one relatively well-known figure and a number of others who are either up-and-coming or semi-established. They run the gamut from family music to pop to rock and metal to even some southern rock/country. These lists are never easy to finalize because even among the EPs there is so much to appreciate musically and lyrically. That was taken into full consideration with this list, too. Those who have followed this critic’s ramblings for years on end, know how the lists work. For everyone else, they work as such: Instead of just 10 new offerings, this list is composed of 15 titles. The top 10 are the best of the best while the following five are honorable mention titles. This is not a stab at those releases or the acts that released them, either. Far from it. The whole purpose is to give those extras their due credit, too.
So without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks Top 10 New EPs of 2021.
PHIL’S PICKS 2021 TOP 10 NEW EPS
SaulPaul – OK To Be Different
Gabriel & The Apocalypse – Alpha Transcendence
Decent Criminal – Decent Criminal
The Mercy Kills – New Rule
Dirkschneider & The Old Gang – Arising
Repentance – Volume 1 – Reborn
All Hail The Yeti – Within The Hollow Earth
Kulick – Sitting in a Quiet Coffeehouse
Blue Eyed Christ – World on Fire Remixes
Zero Theorum – The Killing II
Sydney Sherwood – Headspace
Christopher Shayne – Ten High
20 Watt Tombstone – Year of the Jackalope
Post Death Soundtrack – Pathless Land
Black TarPoon – The Thad
That’s it for this year’s top new EPs. Thanks goes out to all of the firms that sent out this great music and so much more. No offense is meant to any act left out. For instance Of Mice & Men released a trio of new EPs this year, but they ended up as the new album, Echo, so that album is up for consideration among this critic’s top new hard rock/metal albums of the year. Even more year-enders are on their way as the last days of the year start to wind down, so stay tuned!
Family entertainer SaulPaul released his latest studio recording, Okay To Be Different over the weekend. The seven-song EP is not exactly different from other recordings released this year within the family music realm, but that is not a bad thing in this case. As a matter of fact, it makes it just as enjoyable as its counterparts. The similarities between this record and others in the family music realm are shown in large part through the EP’s lyrical themes, which will be discussed shortly. The musical content featured throughout the EP makes for its own share of interest here. It will be discussed a little later. The songs’ sequencing rounds out the record’s most important content. It will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of Okay To Be Different. All things considered, they make the record deserving of a spot among the best of this year’s new EPs.
SaulPaul’s brand new EP, Okay To Be Different is a strong new offering from the veteran family entertainer. Its appeal comes in large part through its lyrical themes. The themes in question are all positive, uplifting messages. As SaulPaul explained that in his own words in a recent interview, “This album is all about the heart and mindset. My goal is to inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence. If I had to describe each song with one word, I’d list them as Joy. Hope. Heart. Friendship. Energy. Inspiration. Motivation. The basic message is to love yourself and love others.”
The message of self confidence most recently came in the EP’s single, ‘Ace It.’ It encourages listeners to do their best in life and school. He reminds listeners that the best way to do even relatively well in life is by doing their best in school, even pointing out that yes, school should be treated just like a job. This is a message that every parent uses with his/her child(ren) and is thankfully echoed here. So for him to echo that message, it vindicates parents, and hopefully will get young people to finally pay attention and take pride in what they do in school and life.
The message of self confidence is present not just in ‘Ace It,’ but also in ‘Be Myself.’ This song also delivers a message of self confidence and knowing that – as the chorus states – “I can be anything.” He tells young listeners that they need to stand tall when they look in the mirror and knowing they can go a long way, “Like Moana.” That reference to the hugely popular Disney flick will generate its own share of enjoyment. Considering that Moana’s story was also about self confidence and personal growth, it makes the reference a great fit that listeners of all ages will appreciate. The overall message here is just one more way in which the EP’s positive, uplifting lyrical content proves so important.
On yet another note, ‘Just Call’ delivers a message centered on the importance of friendship. The song’s subject tells his friends to “call me/call me/Call/And I’ll be right there/If you need help/You know who to call/’Cause you know the reason why/We’ve been through it all.” The message is direct here. It encourages young listeners to tell their friends that they will be there and ready to help. Yes, people do grow apart over the years, but even as new friendships might form over the years, we should still effort to be there for friends new and/or old alike. This is another great, uplifting message. It is one more example of the importance of the lyrical themes featured throughout SaulPaul’s new EP. When it is considered along with the themes featured in the other noted songs and the rest of the record’s entries, the whole forms a solid starting point for Okay To Be Different.
Building on the foundation formed by the lyrical themes is the musical content featured throughout the EP. Between SaulPaul‘s mumble rap approach here, the voice modulation that is so common in so much rap, hip-hop, and pop, the musical content featured here holds its own against anything from SaulPaul’s more well-known mainstream counterparts. The steady beats and the keyboards add their own touch to the appeal of the EP’s overall musical content, too. The use of the marching snare drums in ‘Champions’ is another subtle, but welcome touch that shows the appeal of the record’s musical content. On yet another note, the more pop style approach and sound presented in ‘Call Me’ stands on its own merits. It really stands on its own merits alongside the EP’s other arrangements. All things considered, the musical content featured throughout OK To Be Different widens the EP’s appeal because it will appeal not just to children, but to grown-ups, too. The appeal of that content and the lyrical themes (many of which will resonate with adults just as much as children) makes this EP even more engaging and entertaining. It still is just a portion of what makes the EP stand out. The songs’ sequencing rounds out its most important elements.
The sequencing of Okay To Be Different is important because of the sense of relaxation and ease that it ensures among listeners. As already noted, the arrangements featured throughout the record are generally rap and hip-hop style compositions. However, a close listen reveals that even despite that, the sounds and general approaches to each arrangement are different from one to the next. ‘Best Day Ever’ for instance mixes a guitar line with the noted hip-hop approach for a whole that is infectious throughout its two-and-a-half-minute run time. ‘Be Myself,’ which immediately follows, is more a pure rap type work. The mumble rap approach here will appeal to fans of that rap subgenre that has become so popular in recent years. ‘Live and Learn (ft. Candy Coburn)’ is another more pop/hip-hop hybrid. That is obvious in the pairing of SaulPaul’s flow and the guitar. To a point, one can almost make a comparison here to works from Flipsyde. The pop approach continues in ‘Just Call’ before returning to a more pure rap/hip-hop vibe in the EP’s last three songs. Looking back at all of this, the short and simple is that the EP’s sequencing keeps things interesting by switching up the sounds and approaches to each song all while keeping the overall vibe relaxed and positive from song to song. When the positive impact of this element is considered with the equally positive impact of the record’s musical and lyrical content in general, the overall impact is that it collectively makes Okay To Be Different a presentation that is far more than OK.
SaulPaul’s brand new EP Okay To Be Different is a positive new offering from the veteran performer/rapper/songwriter. It offers plenty for listeners of all ages to appreciate. That is proven in part through its lyrical content. The lyrical themes featured in this record are positive, uplifting messages that are just as important and relevant for adults as they are for SaulPaul’s younger audiences. They are messages of friendship, self-confidence and hard work (and its payoff). The musical arrangements featured throughout the nearly 20-minute record (19 minutes, 50 seconds to be exact), will appeal just as much to adults as to younger listeners if not more so. Much of the EP’s musical content holds its own well against arrangements from SaulPaul’s counterparts within the mainstream rap, hip-hop, and pop communities. Staying on that topic, the manner in which the arrangements (and lyrical themes) were spread across the EP shows the importance of its sequencing. It ensures audiences’ maintained engagement and entertainment in its own right. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of this record. All things considered, they make OK To Be Different far more than OK. Okay To Be Different is available now.
More information on SaulPaul’s upcoming virtual graduation ceremony, his new single, video, and EP is available along with all of his latest news at:
Family music entertainer SaulPaul debuted the video for his latest single this week.
SaulPaul premiered the video for his single, ‘Ace It‘ Friday. The single is featured in his brand new EP, Okay to be Different, which was released the same day through 8 Pound Gorilla Records. The EP’s track listing is noted below.
SaulPaul talked about his new album in a prepared statement.
“This album is all about the heart and mindset,” said SaulPaul. “My goal is to inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence. If I had to describe each song with one word, I’d list them as Joy. Hope. Heart. Friendship. Energy. Inspiration. Motivation. The basic message is to love yourself and love others.”
‘Ace It’ features a musical arrangement that will appeal to fans of today’s mainstream rap and hip-hop songs. That is proven through the voice articulation that is used, the keyboards, beats, and even the violin line.
The lyrical theme featured in SaulPaul’s new single is an uplifting message that encourages listeners to do their best in life and school. He reminds listeners that the best way to do even relatively well in life is by doing their best in school, even pointing out that yes, school should be treated just like a job. This is a message that every parent uses with his/her child(ren) and is thankfully echoed here.
The video for ‘Ace It’ features SaulPaul on a soundstage with a group of young people who have recently graduated from high school. The video shoot actually is part of the video’s story, as SaulPaul had invited the students to take part in the shoot. That footage is paired with footage of the students’ journey from elementary school up to their high school graduation, and will put a smile on anyone’s face.
In other news, SaulPaul is scheduled to host a virtual graduation ceremony for graduates everywhere in the Class of 2021 on May 22. Admission for the public event is free. Attendees can RSVP here.
More information on SaulPaul’s upcoming virtual graduation ceremony, his new single, video, and EP is available along with all of his latest news at:
philspicks 