Happy Thanksgiving! Today is the day to indulge in the things some of us wait for all year – turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Today’s Toe Jam Monday is a Thanksgiving treat packed full of things you love and enjoy – kind of like a Turducken* of music – 3 great albums stuffed into one post.

This is to celebrate a day full of elastic waist pants and vegging out after dinner while the “itis” sets in and you are on the edge of slipping into a turkey coma on the couch. These EPs are short and sweet, but full of great tracks to serve as your Turkey Day soundtrack. Chill enough to keep you relaxed, but exciting enough to keep you awake.

Robopopironica is the debut EP from Barbara, an LA-based trio who gained popularity with their toned down version of “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi. Barbara started out as a drunken idea by two friends, Derek Stephens, who is a classically trained pianist and folk singer, and Frank Eybsen, a hip-hop producer by night and office employee by day. Their ability to successfully meet these two worlds makes for an album I can’t get enough of. It plays to all the things I love – a good folk song and hip-hop beats. They added the vocals of Betsey Moyer to sweeten the deal and this EP is a great teaser for an LP I am definitely waiting for.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. first caught my attention when I heard their cover of “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys version is so perfect, it was a pretty risky move for these new-comers to cover it, but they change it just enough to make it their own, without losing everything that works for the original. Named after a NASCAR legend, their aptly-titled EP Horse Power, released in July, only has four songs on it but each one takes the checkered flag. This makes for some pretty high expectations for their up-coming LP, but fingers crossed, here’s hoping these Detroit natives deliver the goods and make it as one of my tops of 2010.

Harlem Shakes album Technicolour Health was a welcome surprise to my 2009 playlists and I was waiting patiently for what they would have for me in 2010. Sadly, that never happened. Harlem Shakes went their separate ways, which left guitarist Todd Goldstein time to re-visit his solo-project ARMS. Released in March, ARMS self-titled EP has a much softer sound than Harlem Shakes, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. This EP is just 5 songs, but it definitely has a stand out hit with “Heat & Hot Water”. There is no news of Harlem Shakes reuniting, so keep your antenna out for new iPod perfect material from ARMS.

I hope you enjoy your turkey (or Turducken) along with a cornucopia of healthy vegetables and delicious deserts on this holiday Monday. While you’re at it, why not spend some time grabbing these EPs! They’re cheap, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

The track “San Francisco” by Barbara was featured on Tuned In, the Toe Jam Monday Mix Tape that was given out at the last MVM Invades Motown party. If you are interested in another mix, leave me a comment and I’ll get a new one together for the next party.

*Turducken – a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which is then stuffed into a de-boned turkey.

San Francisco – Barbara
[audio:http://www.monstersvsme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/02-San-Francisco.mp3|titles=San Francisco – Barbara]

Nothing But Our Love – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
[audio:http://www.monstersvsme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/01-Nothing-But-Our-Love.mp3|titles=Nothing But Our Love – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.]

Heat & Hot Water – ARMS
[audio:http://www.monstersvsme.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/02-Heat-Hot-Water-1.mp3|titles=Heat & Hot Water – ARMS]

* If you are a member or manager of the above bands and you would like your track removed, please contact us and we will swiftly oblige. Fans – new or old – please support these bands by using your coffee money to buy their records.