Not surprisingly, this list is filled with EPs by quite a few bands you know and quite a few you probably don’t. Of the ones you don’t know, many are likely from Washington; a quick count leaves me with five bands, or 1/4 of this list. Many of these bands I consider among the most promising artists to surface in 2009. All are worth checking out, and you’ll want to keep an eye on them as we head into 2010.

Initially listening to Bagheera’s music, one might dub it as minimal. That, however, would be a folly. Digging deeper into the soft vocals and light instrumentation you’ll find an extensive complexity in every element added, from the instrumentation and percussion backing the Grizzly Bear-esque “Circadian Clock” to the opening Beach Boys-meet-Yeasayer tonal vocal harmonies in “Horizons Lined With Scars”.