Happy New Year. We’ll be back in 2011.

Greyboy – Freestylin’

2010 was the year of Bandcamp, EPs, and Tumblrs. Wise DIY musicians gave away their music and in turn gained support from music blogs and tumblrs. The trend will continue in 2011 and will significantly reduce digital LP releases by indie artists. To our regular readers, we promise to retire all of these tracks in the new year.

1. Lord Huron – Into The Sun EP

Label: Unsigned
Lord Huron – We Went Wild
Notes: I can guarantee that this will be one of my favorite EPs of the Decade. Look for Huron to sign a deal with a mid-major label in 2011.

2. Cults – 7″

Label: Columbia Records via Forest Family Records
Cults – Most Wanted
Notes: Originally mysterious duo from Brooklyn blew up in 2010. Groomed by Gorilla Vs. Bear’s Forest Family Records, until they found greener pastures with Columbia Records. They will have an enormous 2011. Question? Will Columbia go on the warpath to remove Cults’ singles from blogs? The same singles that helped Cults gain attention for their major label contract?

3. Kurt Vile – Square Shells EP

Label: Matador
Kurt Vile – I Know I Got Religion
Notes: In 2010, prolific singer-songwriter Kurt Vile released two of my favorite EPs and a LP on Mexican Summer.

Here’s a badass B-side from legend Mark Lanegan.

Mark Lanegan – Crawl Like A Dog (Creature With The Atom Brain)

Various Artists
Album: Rare Funk – Volume One (Buy)
Label: Electrostatic Records
20th Century – Hot Pants

Quantic
Album: The 5th Exotic (Buy)
Label: Tru Thoughts
Quantic – Life In the Rain