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Happy Winter. Listen to these two EP's to tide you through the cold, gray season. One will make you move, thereby keeping you warm. The other will help set the mood for some winter-time chillaxing.

PS - As always, we appreciate and encourage comments!

Passion Pit - Chunk of Change EP

By Sean B.

Remember the Postal Service? Sure you do. Their moody, yet buoyant tunes were all the rage, and still haunt us to this day. But if you've been holding your breath for a new mail-made work of genius, you are probably dead. And if you're not dead (1) you should try this and (2) you've been turning purple for nothing, as you won't be getting a follow up Postal Service album. Fortunately for you, Passion Pit has arrived with an updated take on catchy electro pop.

It's an old story, really: your typical "home made album for your girlfriend because you're too cheap to buy a Valentine's Day gift, which soon finds its way through a series of interconnected tubes resulting in instant online indie fame." You know, that old chestnut.

Now signed to a legit record label, touring to support their EP, and being touted as a rising act of 2009, P.P.'s ascendency has come quite quickly. But don't get too attached to my P.S. v P.P. comparison. Singer/song writer Michael Angelakos sounds nothing like Ben Gibbard, vocally nor lyrically. Most of his songs revolve around amorous feelings (it was a V-Day gift, after all) and his high pitched, warbling voice is a total contrast to Gibbard's steady and measured delivery. This brand of electro pop is more rousing, even ecstatic at times, with its handclaps, tweaked vocals, and shimmery synths. The standout is clearly "Sleepyhead," which is so driving that it dares you not to dance, and the whole album follows a similar, if more subdued, vein. Another favorite is "Cuddle Fuddle" with a super awesome sample, which I won't give away other than to say this.

Chunk of Change is not perfect, but seeing as how this was a one man bedroom recording it signifys good things to follow. It is, however, so undeniably fun that you're guaranteed to get caught up in it. Just don't forget to breathe.

Bon Iver – Blood Bank Ep
By Jason C.

It was a long time coming, but Justin Vernon is finally getting the respect he deserves. "For Emma, Forever Ago" (the musical equivalent to Henry David Thoreau's, Walden) made the #2 spot on our year-end album list. The biggest problem with his cathartic debut's success is that it's momentum was largely based on it's backstory, which grew into mythical proportions and spread like ivy.

Earlier this month, Bon Iver answered this problem with the new EP, "Blood Bank." It is a difficult task to follow up an album like "For Emma...," but Vernon seems to have progressed naturally, without reflecting any of the pressures or expectations put upon him. The resulting songs are a wonderful new addition to the Bon Iver catalog. These four distinctly different tunes, which were all recorded at different places and times, show that Mr. Vernon is more than capable of creating haunting beauty outside of the almost-too-perfect creative setting of an isolated cabin in wintertime. In fact, they prove that the breathtaking quality in his debut was actually radiating from within him, and was hardly the product of his environment. "Blood Bank" may not share the same reverie as it's predecessor, but any true fan of Vernon's work will appreciate the simple elegance and soulful delivery.

I am emphatically looking forward to what he (and his now permanent band-mates) will do on their next full-length. To me, an EP is like a bag of baby carrots: not much of a meal, but a good way to tide you over 'til dinnertime.