BearFoot - bearfoot EP

BearFoot

bearfoot EP​
self-released; 2015

3.5 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry
​

Jonah Thornton, Isaac Baker and John Rhodes combine forces to deliver a tremendous rock experience in bearfoot EP, named after their band under the moniker BearFoot. The three have a long past of collaboration, and their frequent jam sessions led them to where they are today.

The record begins with a short track entitled “Foreword.” This tune serves as an introduction to the band’s style, and its rock n’ roll themes are peppered with finger-tapping solos and staccato power chord strums, generating a fluid, yet defining sound for the band. Thorton’s vocals draw the listener directly into the heart of “Relapse… Relax,” a slowly building song that features mildly muted percussion, upbeat electric guitars and bass that throbs along with the song’s dynamic makeup.

“Remnants of a Kitchen” takes a more folky approach to songwriting with melodic vocals leading the way for guitars, country-esque drums and various synthesized sounds. The song gradually develops in complexity and in volume, while maintaining a charming simplicity that transcends the individual part of the whole. A similarly pleasant ballad follows in “Take Out Your Earrings, We’re Staying Home” with smooth vocals overlaying hushed guitar and piano.

BearFoot revives the acoustic singer-songwriter facet of its style in the first portion of “Forward.” where a reverb-laced voice wanders to falsetto notes high above what was previously seen on the album. The full band soundscape returns in the second half of the song and carries into “Vintage Memory” one of the two bonus tracks at the end of the album. Jazzy blues makes its entrance in this instrumental anthem and displays a new side to the band’s talent.

​Ending with “Oh.” BearFoot takes a quick jaunt into electronica without abandoning their signature style. The echoing, droning sounds speak to the reflection of the album as a whole and to how the band hopes to continue to build their work as they continue progress. When each track is heard both individually and as a coherent album, the bearfoot EP certainly proves to be a masterful achievement.

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