Guilty Pleasure (EP)

A Guilty Pleasure (EP) is a type of extended play (EP) recording that contains songs or musical pieces that a person enjoys despite feeling embarrassed, ashamed, or self-conscious about liking them. The concept of a "guilty pleasure" arises from a perceived mismatch between one's personal enjoyment and prevailing societal or cultural norms, taste hierarchies, or expectations of musical quality.

The term typically implies that the listener is aware the music is perceived as lowbrow, cheesy, overproduced, formulaic, or generally lacking in artistic merit by a significant portion of the population, but they derive enjoyment from it nonetheless. Reasons for this enjoyment can be varied, including nostalgia, simple catchiness, camp value, or a temporary escape from more demanding or serious forms of art.

Guilty pleasure EPs are not defined by genre. They can encompass a wide range of musical styles, from pop and bubblegum pop to country, disco, easy listening, or even certain subgenres of metal or rock. The designation of "guilty pleasure" is subjective and depends heavily on the individual listener's cultural background, peer group, and personal taste. An EP considered a guilty pleasure by one person may be genuinely appreciated and enjoyed without embarrassment by another.

The release of a Guilty Pleasure EP can be intentional or unintentional. An artist might deliberately embrace the "guilty pleasure" label as a form of ironic self-awareness or to appeal to a specific audience that enjoys kitsch or camp. Alternatively, an EP might be initially released with serious intentions, but later become classified as a guilty pleasure due to its perceived low quality or association with a particular fad or trend. The "guilty pleasure" designation can also evolve over time as tastes and cultural norms change.