The term "EP" comes from the age of vinyl, when one could expect to play one song per record—that is, until the "extended play" came along, offering several songs per side of the record. Typically containing four to six tracks, the first EPs were seven-inch vinyl records known for having more tracks than a normal single.

In the age of digital music, artists are using EPs as a way to release material quickly and with less risk, causing fans to focus on a few singles. It's a way for them to see what works and what doesn't. It has the potential to keep the music-making process fresh while keeping costs down.

A number of artists released EPs in 2013, and the quality of the material was such that we at NewReleaseTuesday.com decided to create a category for the format in the WE LOVE CHRISTIAN MUSIC AWARDS. 

In no particular order, here are my Top 10 EPs of 2013:

Thousand Foot Krutch - Metamorophosiz: The End Remixes Vol. 2 (July 2, 2013)
It's pretty awesome to see how well Thousand Foot Krutch's songs translate from the rock world to the electronic world. Part of it is because TFK writes such tremendous songs. Another part of it is because frontman Trevor McNevan's vocals are so universally powerful. TFK's second installment of their Metamorphosiz series includes some awesome reimaginings of already-incredible songs. Complete with trance and dub step elements introduced by Andy Hunter and former Family Force 5 frontman Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, this EP contains five remixes that were fully thought through. This isn't a remix album for a remix album's sake; it's complementary to TFK's already impressive resume.

Switchfoot - Fading West EP (Sept. 17, 2013)
I struggled to put this EP on the list because all three of the songs on this collection are part of the full-length Fading West album. But in 2013, it was all we had of the much-anticipated new music from Switchfoot. Inspired by their world travels and written before our eyes in the Fading West rockumentary/surf film, the songs on the EP show a new, exciting direction for Switchfoot. With songs like the inspiring "Who We Are," the emotional "Love Alone is Worth the Fight" and the atmospheric "Ba55," gone are the days of electric guitar-driven tunes, making way for some deeply personal songwriting to emerge like never before. It's a great tease into the forthcoming album. (Note: With purchase online, many people also received the title track, "Fading West," which will NOT be on the Fading West album. So… bonus!)

Unspoken - The World is Waking EP (June 25, 2013)
Centricity Records' pop group Unspoken doesn't yet know life outside the EP. Blasting onto the scene with the Get To Me EP in 2012—which yielded the hit song "Who You Are"—the band quickly returned with its second helping in 2013, The World is Waking. Already, the EP has produced another hit with the anthemic "Lift My Life Up." The band gets a lot more done, creatively, in five songs than most bands do in 12 on a full-length record. Showing off elements of pop, rock, soul and even folk, Unspoken delivers its eclecticism with an unflinching focus on Jesus. It's a project that displays a great deal of confidence from the band, and rightly so. They're making great music, and don't need a full-length to make a splash in the industry or to tell a complete story.

Eleventyseven - Good Spells EP (Sept. 10, 2013)
Hymns are so hot right now, and it seems like the goal of many an artist these days is to dust off the timeless songs of the faith and make them accessible to a new generation. But man, it'd be pretty difficult for any band to do that better than Eleventyseven's Good Spells, a collection of five hymns that are given a bright, upbeat electro-pop makeover without losing the songs' original melodies or heart. Equal parts soul and synth, this album is a celebration of these incredible songs that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best Christian pop out today. You've never heard "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", "Come Thou Fount" and "I Surrender All" like this before.

The Jellyrox - Embellish EP (April 23, 2013)
Speaking of Eleventyseven, frontman Matt Langston has a side project called The Jellyrox, and his Embellish EP is one of the best electro-pop projects of the year—period. In an interview with NRT, Langston said The Jellyrox is the manifestation of his search for a particular sound. Despite the fact that he says he's still searching, the product delivered on Embellish is fantastic, presenting crisp, clean, otherworldly synth sounds in an upbeat flair, masking deep, if not pained, lyrical themes. Make sure you check out the song "Rebel Tide," and turn up your speakers and your bass. This is one you can't miss. 

Allistair - Feed the White Dog Love EP (May 21, 2013)
Fans of Owl City will find much to love with independent pop artist Allistair. There are indeed many similarities. It's a one-man synth pop band (helmed by Zander Koble), and the lead vocals carry a similar lyric tenor timbre. Allistair's Feed the White Dog Love is tremendously polished for an independent record, and features some A-level pop music with tunes such as "Boomerang!" and "Lucky." Somewhat more aggressive than Adam Young's Owl City, Koble's Allistair mixes the synth-pop sensibilities of that band with the punk power of a group like Relient K or Hawk Nelson. The result is a fun, powerful collection of summer songs that are worth a healthy dose of volume. While spiritually, there's not much overtness in the lyrics (outside of the title of the final song, the instrumental "WWJD"), it's a great, clean, fun listening experience—and a great surprise from the indie world.

The Rocket Summer - Christmas Madness EP (Dec. 3, 2013)
One of the best EPs of the year came in the 11th hour of the year, as Bryce Avary's one-man rock band came out with a project that he'd never even considered about a month prior to its release. In mid-November, Avary announced to his social media fans that he was considering putting out a last-minute Christmas EP, and the fan base enthusiastically encouraged him. Appropriately titled the Christmas Madness EP, Avary worked like mad to write three songs from scratch, and record and master them (plus a cover song) in time for the Christmas season. Far from sounding rushed or thrown together, the EP features the signature energy and passion of The Rocket Summer centered on the holidays. Each of the four songs has a different feel and focus, with themes ranging from having no money during the holidays, to coming back to one's hometown at Christmas, to the exploits of an "Elf Creep." There's a beautiful, stripped down acoustic version of "O Holy Night" that rounds things out nicely. Avary may have created this EP in record time, but the result is nothing short of spectacular.

Ryan Stevenson - Holding Nothing Back EP (Sept. 10, 2013)
It was great seeing this talented singer-songwriter back in the mix as he released his first record with new label home Gotee Records. Ryan Stevenson hits his sweet spot on this first foray back into music, mixing the emotional honesty of acoustic soul with the polish of modern pop music. He sets the tone for this on the worshipful, praise-through-gritted-teeth title track. "The Human Side" is a tremendously powerful song about how Jesus understands what we go through. The upbeat "Lead the Way" could easily be a tobyMac song… but that makes sense when you realize that Stevenson is one of tobyMac's songwriters. Speaking of tobyMac songs, the most popular song he co-wrote for his new boss, "Speak Life," finds its way on here, too, with an acoustic treatment. You get to know the heart and soul of Ryan Stevenson on this EP, and hopefully, get a taste at additional goodness to come.

Finding Favour - Finding Favour EP (March 12, 2013)
Gotee Records' new Southern-influenced contemporary band, Finding Favour, made their presence known with the Finding Favour EP. With sounds similar to Unspoken and Big Daddy Weave in the Christian realm, and Lonestar-meets-Gavin Degraw-meets-Train in the mainstream realm, there's plenty of soul and a little boot-scootin' boogie going on here. The emotional, stand-out single "Slip On By" is the highlight of this collection. Finding Favour packs a lot of punch in their six songs, and shows us that they're for real.

for KING & COUNTRY - Into the Silent Night EP (Oct. 22, 2013)
Another Christmas project makes the top 10 list, as for KING & COUNTRY released their first brand-new tunes since the release of Crave in 2012. The Into the Silent Night EP includes two remakes ("Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Little Drummer Boy") that remarkably stay true to the originals while injecting the band's signature high-energy, musically excellent style into the arrangements. Many fans already were familiar with the band's first Christmas single, "Baby Boy," released in 2012, and it finds its way on this EP twice: once in the original studio form, and secondly from a live recording. Finally, the title track is a great relationship-focused song that is a welcome addition to the Christmas music library. On this EP, expect lots of drums, lots of harmonies, and lots of energy. It's not just one of the best EPs of the year; it's one of the best Christmas collections from Christian artists in years.