Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites is the second EP by American electronic musicproducerSkrillex. It was released exclusively through Beatport on October 22, 2010 through mau5trap and Big Beat Records, while being released on December 20 for digital download via other online retailers and on March 1, 2011 as a physical release. Recorded in 2010 at his apartment using a laptop,[4] the EP is prominently a dubstep record while also using elements of electro house and progressive house. "Rock n' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)" and "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" use a sound clip of Rachael Nedrow (also known as "speedstackinggirl") shouting "Yes, oh my Gosh!"[5] The EP features guest contributions from Penny, Foreign Beggars and Bare Noize while also featuring remixes done by Noisia, Zedd and Bare Noize. It won two Grammy's at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards; one for Best Dance Recording, and the other for Best Dance/Electronica Album.
Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites received generally positive reviews from music critics. Jon O'Brien from Allmusic gave the EP a positive review, saying, "The three remixes from Noisia, Bare Noize, and Zedd are solid if unspectacular, with only the latter's chilled-out version of the title track providing anything wildly different from the originals. But the invention showcased on the first six bass-heavy anthems is more than enough to suggest that the U.S. has found someone who is capable of selling the dubstep sound back to its South London homeland".[15]Alternative Press also gave a positive review, saying, "On Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Moore has hit his mash-up groove, combining monster dance riffs with melodic ambience. The EP title is fitting, since these nine tracks (three of which are remixes) embody both sides of Moore; the rambunctious, punk-rock kid who screamed his head off in From First To Last (see the chaos of “Kill EVERYBODY”), but also the melodic, pensive adult who can seamlessly collaborate with pop singers like Penny and rappers like Foreign Beggars and Bare Noize".[16]
Commercial performance
The EP has since become a moderate commercial success. In the United States, it has reached a peak of number forty-nine on the Billboard200, and has spent more than thirty weeks within the chart.[17] It has also reached the summit of the BillboardHeatseekers Albums chart, as well as number three on the Dance/Electronic Albums.[18] It reached number twenty-eight on the ARIA Charts in Australia.[19]
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