Hey, everyone
Since I've covered every Foster The People album on this blog, I thought I'd discuss the band's EPs: “Self-Titled”, “III”, “In The Darkest of Nights, Let The Birds Sing”, and “Post-SHC”. So, without further ado, these are all of Foster The People's extended plays explained.
We'll begin with the earliest FTP recording which is the band's self-titled effort featuring “Pumped Up Kicks”. In the beginning, PUK was a raw demo composed by frontman Mark Foster who uploaded it onto the band's website. Once the song went crazy viral the boys had to add it to their EP before “Torches” debuted in 2011.
Foster The People formed in Los Angeles October 2009, and after many failed attempts to get their own projects off the ground, Mark, Mark, and Cubbie teamed up to create Foster The People. As rock n roll superstars, the band progressed enough to show fans - and haters - they had more up their sleeves than a couple of hit singles.
Eight years later, on April 27, 2017, the boys dropped “III” as a digital release three months before “Sacred Hearts Club”, the band's third album, officially came out. The EP features hip hop and rock inspired tracks “Pay The Man”, “Doin' It For The Money”, and “SHC”. It was the tiniest taste of Foster The People's next chapter. The boys took the initiative to tread across unknown terrain in place of their usual Indie rock. SHC would set the stage for the next wave of FTP albums.
On December 11, 2020, Foster The People released what is now “In The Darkest Of Nights, Let The Birds Sing”. This EP featured six 80s tinged electronic tracks and the first independent release from Columbia Records. Some of these songs are “Walk With A Big Stick”, “Cadillac”, “Lamb's Wool”, and others. Right off the bat, it's obvious FTP are taking back their career and doing it their way since they first formed in 2009. Since Corona Virus caused everything to shut down, the boys dropped visualizers for every track on the EP to satiate fans during lockdown into 2021.
Now, I don't go on Instagram, but, as I read comments under an audio video for “Pick U Up”, I noticed a fan mentioned there wouldn't be any new music for a while. These current tracks via YouTube were another digital EP, according to what Mark Foster said on his IG account. In the years leading up to becoming a hardcore Foster The People fan, I remember “Worst Nites” playing on an alternative radio station as I drove around town during lunch breaks. Needless to say, I adored the track and couldn't wait to hear more from my boys.
Another EP you may not think about is “Melody & Silence” recorded with EDM duo The Knocks. This little thing dropped March 19, 2021, and it featured one of my favorite tracks from FTP “All About You”. The boys also filmed a video for the track where Mark Foster is walking around downtown with The Knocks.
That's it, peeps! Hope you learned something today and appreciate Foster The People that much more. Video below is an old demo of "I Would Do Anything For You".