Brunch (EP)

Last updated

Brunch
SelfbrunchEP.jpg
EP by
Self
ReleasedSeptember 23, 1999
Recorded1997–1998
Length12:16
Label
Producer Matt Mahaffey
Self chronology
Breakfast with Girls
(1999)		Brunch
(1999)		 Gizmodgery
(2000)
Self EP chronology
Brunch
(1999)		 Self Goes Shopping
(2000)

Brunch (stylized as Brunch B-Sides) is the first extended play by the American pop rock band Self, released on September 23, 1999, through DreamWorks Records and Spongebath Records. It consists of cut tracks from Self's third studio album, Breakfast with Girls (1999). It received a limited physical release, which was met with positive reception.

Contents

Background

During the production of Self's third album, Breakfast with Girls (1999), leader Matt Mahaffey wrote and produced nineteen songs. [1] The band's label gradually reduced this to thirteen tracks to improve marketability and the album's listening experience. Three of these scrapped songs were compiled to create the extended play Brunch. "Fliptop Box" discusses Mahaffey's smoking addiction, which was written in an unsuccessful attempt to quit. [2] "Crashing Parties" uses synthesizer-reliant space age pop instrumentation, while "Happy Accidents" follows an art rock style likened by Bryan Tilford of Ink 19 to XTC's music. [3] "Fliptop Box" was first performed by Self as early as late 1996, [4] including a performance at the McNeil Room in Troy, New York. [5] "Crashing Parties" was simply entitled "Parties" by Mahaffey prior to its official release. [6]

Release

Marketed as a limited edition release, [7] Brunch was released by DreamWorks Records and Spongebath Records, [8] on September 23, 1999. It was originally meant to be included alongside Breakfast with Girls upon its release, but was not due to it still being manufactured at the time. [3] Brunch was later given to fans who pre-ordered the album as consolation, [9] bundled together alongside a puffy sticker. 5,000 units of the EP were produced, with a portion of these available for sale on its own at select retailers. Brunch sold out within its first week, with the band consequently referring to songs from the EP as "from our CD that's available on eBay" during live performances. [4]

All three songs featured on Brunch were later released on the double vinyl release of Breakfast with Girls, [10] [11] and later made available for digital download on Spongebath's website alongside Self's first compilation album, Feels Like Breakin' Shit (1998). [12] An acoustic version of "Fliptop Box" was made available for download on October 5, 2000, followed by a chiptune remix of the song based on the Super Mario game franchise that was included on Self's second extended play, Self Goes Shopping (2000). [4] Initially planned for distribution via DreamWorks, [13] the remix was released for free on Spongebath's website. [14] Brunch has never been made available on streaming services. [4]

Reception

Bryan Tilford of Ink 19 reviewed Brunch positively, complimenting the inventive sampling of "Fliptop Box" and highlighting the lyricism of "Happy Accidents" as reminiscent of Andy Partridge's sarcasm. He praised the EP's worth as essential to Breakfast with Girls, [3] calling the songs "too genius for their mother disc". [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matt Mahaffey.

No.TitleLength
1."Fliptop Box"3:45
2."Crashing Parties"4:22
3."Happy Accidents"4:09
Total length:12:16

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the EP's back notes. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Robertson, Geoff (May 1998). "Self - News and updates". Splitt. Archived from the original on February 21, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  2. ↑ Duritz, Darius (March 10, 2000). "The PiG Interview with Matt Mahaffey". PiG Publications. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Tilford, Bryan (September 23, 1999). "Self - Brunch Review". Ink 19. Archived from the original on November 17, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Dih, Gerald (January 14, 2026). "Dissecting the obscure Self rocker that warned us about doomscrolling". AudioPhix . Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ Robertson, Geoff (August 14, 1997). "Self - November 16, 1996 McNeil Room". Splitt. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  6. ↑ Robertson, Geoff (December 10, 1998). "Self - September 16, 1998 Nashville". Splitt. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Self - FAQs". Spongebath Records . May 29, 2000. Archived from the original on May 29, 2000. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ Higgons, Keith (November 20, 2022). "Matt Mahaffey of sElf". Abandoned Albums. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  9. ↑ Besecker, Gabe (December 11, 2023). "sElf-Indulgent: A Retrospective on the Band That Started Matt Mahaffey's Career". Woof Magazine. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Self - Discography". Jump.to. March 10, 2000. Archived from the original on October 29, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Self - Breakfast with Girls". Self.is. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Self - B-SIDES". Spongebath Records . March 2, 2000. Archived from the original on March 3, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ Harkey, Scott (September 11, 2000). "Self / Interviews". Silent Uproar. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Self - Bsides (January 2001)". Spongebath Records . Archived from the original on January 4, 2001. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  15. ↑ Tilford, Bryan (November 14, 2000). "Self - interview". Ink 19. Archived from the original on December 18, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  16. ↑ Brunch EP (Media notes). Self. DreamWorks. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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