By Gary Wien
originally published: 12/29/2012
One trend I've noticed recently is that in addition to artists putting out singles on a more regular basis, they're also putting out EPs more often than ever before. Many are utilizing music sites like Noisetrade.com as a place to showcase an EP and hope to introduce their music to a larger audience. When I come up with my list of Top Albums of the Year, I generally restrict the list to those with 6 or more songs. I just don't think it's fair to compare the work of an EP with 4 songs to a complete album. Nevertheless, many of the best releases each year are EPs, so I like to highlight my favorites.
Top EPs of 2012
In alphabetical order
The Cheek Of Her -- MegaphonicBrian Fitzpatrick & The Band of Brothers -- The Northern Lights EPHere & Sea -- Acoustic EPKeith Monacchio -- Tips, Drinks & Gas Money EPPlaymaker -- Helicopter EPRed Horse -- Hard ControlScott Miller and Rayna Gellert -- CoDEPENDENTS
Since The Penguin plays indie music, sometimes it's difficult to get releases as soon as they come out. Generally, indie bands take a bit longer to promote their records due to limited resources. A good indie record might still be reaching radio stations two or three years after its release. In addition, as an independent radio station, we're also limited by our own budget. So, here are some of the records that would likely have made previous Top Albums lists had we received them earlier...
Top Forgotten Discs That Appeared In 2012
In alphabetical order
9 Tomorrows -- Gravity In LoveBullet Bob & The Colts -- It's All About The SongGlen Campbell -- Ghost On The CanvasPete Donnelly -- When You Come HomeEarthman -- RememberEyelit -- Elephant EPHemingbirds -- Death WaveLynda Loveless -- Indestructible MachineDavid Mayfield Parade -- The David Mayfield ParadeMatthew Reed -- Come And DrinkPaul Thorn -- A Long Way From TupeloThe Valery Trails -- Ghosts & GravityCorey Wagar -- On The Edge
Listen to great tunes like these every day on The Penguin
Gary Wien is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist. He currently writes for NewJerseyStage.com and Jersey Arts, and serves as Program Director for ThePenguinRocks.com, an online radio station spinning indie rock and roll.
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
EVENT PREVIEWS
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades presents 2026 "Gift of Music" Scholarship Benefit Concert Celebrating Dorothy Kaplan Roffman
(TENAFLY, NJ) -- The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Thurnauer School of Music presents the 2026 Gift of Music Scholarship Benefit Concert, taking place Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades. The event celebrates the extraordinary 41-year legacy of Dorothy Kaplan Roffman, founding director of the Thurnauer School of Music, whose leadership and vision have shaped one of the region's premier community music schools.
Great Music on the Morristown Green & Music at St. Peter's presents Duruflé's "Requiem"
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Great Music on the Morristown Green is pleased to be collaborating with Music at St. Peter's to present Maurice Duruflé's transcendent Requiem (Opus 9) on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in the glorious acoustics of St. Peter's Episcopal Church (121 South Street) in Morristown. Showtime is 5:00pm.
Kean Stage presents An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi on March 29th
(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean Stage presents An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Enlow Recital Hall (215 North Avenue) in Hillside. His one-of-a-kind show brings together comedy, commentary, and an array of classic and soon-to-be classic songs from Stephen Sondheim to Blondie, from Comden & Green to Madonna. Accompanied by his six-piece jazz band. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Cryptid Records launches "Surviving the Music Industry" series
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Philly-based Cryptid Records is a label where community matters, artists thrive, and contracts don't come with fangs. The team of professionals that run the operation – Jessie Bonney-Burrill, Sean Bonney-Burrill, Maddy Rose Weisman and Gabe Banford – have diverse backgrounds in music, visual art, mental health, and business strategy. Their passion for working with musicians and artists is evident in the album roll-out for Burning at Both Ends, the forthcoming LP from the label's first signing, rising independent artist Hit Like a Girl.
Songwriters in the Pines Series Returns to Albert Music Hall on Sunday
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Local songwriters will take the spotlight at Albert Music Hall on Sunday, March 29, 2026, when the venue's Songwriters in the Pines Series returns for an afternoon dedicated to original music. The show brings together regional performers sharing original songs and some of the stories behind them, offering audiences a relaxed setting to experience new music and perhaps discover a new favorite local artist.
Middletown Arts Center presents MAC Music Cafe on Sunday
(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center presents MAC Music Café on Sunday, March 29, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Join them for an evening of original music, dynamic performances and unforgettable live energy featuring Reina Williams & Patrick Bamburak, JStu and Michael Brett.
WP Jazz Room presents John Pizzarelli's "Dear Mr. Bennett" on Sunday
(WAYNE, NJ) -- WP Jazz Room presents John Pizzarelli's "Dear Mr. Bennett" on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at Shea Center for Performing Arts. The Grammy-winning producer, guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli celebrates the centennial of iconic singer Tony Bennett.
Gregory McLoughlin presents 300th Episode of "Thank God It's Monday" livestream
Armed with a bass, a kick drum, and a foot tambourine, Gregory McLoughlin has spent years turning parking lots, sidewalks, and small rooms into spaces for connection – offering one-on-one performances that feel more like conversations than concerts. On Monday, March 30, 2026, the New Jersey-based songwriter will mark a major milestone in that journey: the 300th episode of his weekly "TGIM" livestream (Thank God It's Monday).
Kean Stage presents Billy Ocean on April 2nd
(UNION, NJ) -- Kean Stage presents Billy Ocean, the biggest black recording star Britain has ever produced, on Thursday, April 2, 2026 in the Wilkins Theatre. Showtime is 7:30pm.
