EP Review: Blueburst – Kick My Tires
Atlanta-based outfit Blueburst swiftly rose to prominence following the release of its acclaimed album Significance. The album's most streamed track is Vanish, notable for its jangly guitars and meowing licks. Its other standouts include energetic Supernova, Executioner's Song that sounds like a lost traditional gem and Kick My Tires, which spawned its own EP with four versions of the song.
The album's dramatic melodies and characteristic guitars bring to mind another band from Georgia – the legendary R.E.M., especially their earlier albums. However, this is a superficial comparison, as Blueburst have tons more to offer: hurricane-like guitar textures, fiercely emotional drumming, pulsating grooves and truly poetic lyrics. All of these things are showcased on the album version of Kick My Tires.
But they have even more colors in their palette. And the EP we're reviewing is a perfect way to take a deeper look at what the band has been celebrated for, as well as to discover new facets of their music.
The album version of the track is a storm that can't be controlled. But it's also laser-focused! That's what we learn when we take a listen to the unconstrained Kick Mix of the track. To put it simply, it features MORE DRUMS from Michael Jerome, which makes the sound raw and super emotional.
Another chance to take a deeper look at the song is the Instrumental. Craig Douglas Miller's vocals are absent from the mix, and the scarce but atmospheric guitar licks now take central stage. At least, that's how it sounds to my ears.
The EP closes with the unsettling Nebraska Version. It's raw. It's dusty. It's sparse. It's relentless. I'll let myself quote the press release, which captures the essence of this version perfectly: "A haunting, lo-fi acoustic take recorded on a vintage Tascam Portastudio 414 cassette 4-track, with only an Echoplex delay as an effect. Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album, this version strips the song down to its most intimate, emotionally raw core."
If more bands could learn from Blueburst, maybe they would try and take a closer, deeper look at the songs they know too well. This effort could help them discover new depths in familiar material, surprising both themselves and their audience, which Kick My Tears EP does with mind-blowing success.
The album's dramatic melodies and characteristic guitars bring to mind another band from Georgia – the legendary R.E.M., especially their earlier albums. However, this is a superficial comparison, as Blueburst have tons more to offer: hurricane-like guitar textures, fiercely emotional drumming, pulsating grooves and truly poetic lyrics. All of these things are showcased on the album version of Kick My Tires.
But they have even more colors in their palette. And the EP we're reviewing is a perfect way to take a deeper look at what the band has been celebrated for, as well as to discover new facets of their music.
The album version of the track is a storm that can't be controlled. But it's also laser-focused! That's what we learn when we take a listen to the unconstrained Kick Mix of the track. To put it simply, it features MORE DRUMS from Michael Jerome, which makes the sound raw and super emotional.
Another chance to take a deeper look at the song is the Instrumental. Craig Douglas Miller's vocals are absent from the mix, and the scarce but atmospheric guitar licks now take central stage. At least, that's how it sounds to my ears.
The EP closes with the unsettling Nebraska Version. It's raw. It's dusty. It's sparse. It's relentless. I'll let myself quote the press release, which captures the essence of this version perfectly: "A haunting, lo-fi acoustic take recorded on a vintage Tascam Portastudio 414 cassette 4-track, with only an Echoplex delay as an effect. Inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska album, this version strips the song down to its most intimate, emotionally raw core."
If more bands could learn from Blueburst, maybe they would try and take a closer, deeper look at the songs they know too well. This effort could help them discover new depths in familiar material, surprising both themselves and their audience, which Kick My Tears EP does with mind-blowing success.