Rating: 8/10

The EP will inevitably, for better or worse, be the redheaded stepchild of all music releases. The mainstream thrives on the hype behind big singles, and the independent world revolves around full-length albums. EP’s get lost in the shuffle so often; it’s understandable, especially for independent artists, why releasing an EP can be more feasible and make more financial sense, but to the listening public, EP’s rarely find themselves being remembered and replayed, getting lost in the endless release cycle and ever-crowded musical marketplace. WE review EP’s here on a very limited basis, yet the highest volume of pitches I receive is for these releases. But EP’s are just often too short and leave the listener wanting more. In 2018, I have not heard a single EP worth commenting on before now–and yet, by that same token, when a rare one does rise above the rest, it’s all the more important to pay attention and not let it get overlooked.

It was an Internet comment that led me to Robynn Shayne, the comment that her latest release might be the EP of the year. And indeed, this one does manage to stand out, and even though it’s only six songs and twenty minutes, there’s a lot here, and it doesn’t feel incomplete.

Crying steel guitar introduces “Whiskey and Bad decisions,” the lively opener about the reasons Shayne has found herself behind bars. Openers can make or break an album, and on an EP, they become even more vital since there’s only so much time to get to know the artist. This is the perfect song to introduce a new listener to Robynn Shayne’s style and twang, somewhere between Erin Enderlin and Tanya Tucker. “Nothin’ crazy About You, But Me” is a fun little duet with Jordan Lee in the vein of Shinyribs’ “I Don’t Give a Shit,” or maybe a more lighthearted take on Ashley McBryde’s “Andy (I Can’t Live Without You.)” The point is they don’t mind each other’s quirks and faults because they know they are made for each other. And then there’s the antithesis of this, in “Two Words one finger,” wherein these are at first the words “I do” and the finger the narrator was wrapped around, but now they represent something entirely different after she has caught him cheating on her.

“Hell Broke Loose” is the current single on Texas radio, and on one hand, we’ve had a ton of songs like this to the point they’ve become a bit of a cliché, where a woman kills an abusive husband, but on the other side of this, I tend to enjoy these songs unconditionally, and this one is in fact my favorite on the EP. This song is enhanced by some lovely fiddle and a driving beat, and although I do wish they’d let that guitar solo breathe a little more, this song would sound excellent live. The title track, “Coffee Days and Whiskey Nights,” is probably the most country–although all of this is pretty definitely country–with hints of Western swing and references to Jack and Joe, both of whom she needs to get through life. Just a fun, catchy little tune that can get stuck in your head quite easily. The album closes on a burst of energy, with its most lively track, “Movin’ On.” Robynn is telling an old lover that when he said goodbye, it turned out to be a blessing, and now she’s moved on and he can’t have her back.

Then, sadly, our twenty minutes is over. It only leaves me wanting more from Shayne, but not in the unsatisfying way of most EP’s, rather it’s because all these songs are so infectious and well-written, and Robynn Shayne has a presence as a vocalist. This little EP is more lively and fun than many of the full-length albums I’ve heard in the past year, especially among 2017 releases, and nothing here is filler. I just want to hear more from her. I can’t wait till we get a full album, but for now, go check this out, as well as Shayne’s other music. Really cool discovery, and Robynn Shayne is a name you should keep your eye on.

Buy the EP