B-Side Guys

There’s a certain audacity in releasing four versions of the same song as an EP. It demands not only a particularly strong composition at its core but also genuine artistic insight into how that single musical idea can be refracted through different prisms. With the “Kick My Tires” EP, Atlanta-based Blueburst accomplishes precisely this balancing act, transforming what could have been a mere curiosity into a compelling study of musical perspective.

Craig Douglas Miller, the creative force behind Blueburst, has taken an unconventional path to this moment. After a two-decade musical hibernation following the dissolution of his ’90s band The Reach, Miller’s mid-life creative rebirth continues to bear fruit. As a follow-up to last year’s well-received Significance album, this EP extracts a standout track and subjects it to thoughtful reinterpretation across four distinct iterations.

The EP opens with the “Kick Mix,” reimagined by producer Ben Etter. This version immediately announces itself as more than a casual remix, amplifying the original’s muscular foundation with particular emphasis on Michael Jerome’s drumming. The production brings previously buried elements to the forefront, creating a more aggressive sonic landscape that fundamentally shifts the song’s emotional impact without betraying its essence. Jerome’s work here particularly shines, his dynamic performance providing both thunderous punctuation and subtle propulsion.

The second track presents the original album version from Significance, serving as the EP’s anchor point. In this context—positioned between variations—listeners may discover new appreciation for the production decisions that shaped the song’s initial release. The juxtaposition highlights Marty Willson-Piper’s guitar contributions, those signature chiming tones that echo his work with The Church while establishing Blueburst’s own sonic signature.

The instrumental version, positioned third in the sequence, reveals the architectural strength of the composition. Without vocals to guide the narrative, the interplay between guitars takes center stage, exposing the textural depth that might otherwise go unnoticed. The rhythm section—including bassist Ryan Kelly—demonstrates remarkable restraint, creating space for the arrangement’s more subtle elements to emerge.

Most revealing, however, is the EP’s final offering—the “Nebraska” version. Named after Bruce Springsteen’s raw, home-recorded masterpiece, this stripped-down rendition was captured on a vintage Tascam Portastudio 414 cassette 4-track, utilizing only an Echoplex delay for effect. The result is haunting in its intimacy, with Miller’s vocals assuming newfound vulnerability against the sparse acoustic backdrop. The lo-fi aesthetic does more than create nostalgic texture; it fundamentally transforms the song’s emotional resonance, revealing the sturdy songcraft beneath the production choices.

What makes the “Kick My Tires” EP particularly intriguing is how it functions as both artistic statement and instructive case study. Each version maintains the song’s intrinsic identity while illuminating different facets of its musical DNA. The project demonstrates remarkable confidence from a band still establishing its voice, willing to dismantle and reassemble a core piece of their repertoire so early in their career.

For Miller, who embraced music again at age 50 after battling depression and creative stagnation, this EP represents another step in his unlikely artistic rebirth. His collaboration with Willson-Piper continues to yield music that honors their shared influences from ’80s alternative and post-punk traditions while avoiding mere revivalism.

At a compact twenty minutes, the EP never overstays its welcome. The sequencing creates a natural narrative arc, from the amplified energy of the “Kick Mix” through to the intimate confession of the “Nebraska” version. This progression guides listeners through a thoughtful deconstruction of songcraft, demonstrating how arrangement, production, and performance choices fundamentally shape musical expression.

“Kick My Tires” in its varied forms reveals Blueburst as artists engaged in serious musical conversation rather than simply chasing streaming numbers. By revisiting and recontextualizing their work, they’ve created something more substantive than a stopgap release between albums. This EP stands as both complement to their full-length debut and self-contained artistic statement—one that rewards attentive listening and suggests promising creative horizons for a band defying conventional career trajectories.