Kyle Bugg is a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter located in Kingston, WA. Originally from Marquette, MI, he brings his often-chaotic bursting with enthused notes of rock n’ roll in the vein of Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to audiences everywhere. Though a tad on the lo-fi end, the sound on his latest EP Half Done Things mixes dark psychedelia with introspection. Right from the get-go, you can feel Bugg’s raucous energy permeating these tracks. Fasten your seatbelts as his grit-filled vocals, fuzzed-out guitars and big demanding drums will take you through the fast lanes of life. Bugg certainly knows how to rock out as these soundscapes packed with dramatic reverb and distortion which will really take you to that musical sweet spot.
Half Done Things gets realized with “Paper Thin,” where big demanding drums sound off on the start of this track. Echo-y, reverb-drenched vocals follow through. The amped guitars and bass add to the energies. This song is fueled by invigorating instrumentals. The fuzzy guitars make for a deeply effective sound. At moments this had a big bluesy pulse to it that reminded me of Radiohead and The Black Keys. In fact, there was something to Bugg’s affection here that recalled a Thom Yorke vibe. Some monotone piano and a sizzling drumming beat settles into the groove as slowly evolving guitars ebbs and flows in on “Last One Alive… Turn Out The Lights.” This felt like an inviting bluesy track with an epically cool lounge vibe. This was a departure from the raucous energy being felt in the previous song. This track had a more ominous vibe to it as the artist shows his darker side with this edgy undertaking. On “Funeral Fit For A Monster,” chord progressions on the acoustic guitar make up the intro of this song. Slowly the loud sounds of piano join in. The music is overpowering, nearly overshadowing the vocals. Perhaps more fidelity could balance out the sounds. The percussive beats were very lively. The combined vocal harmonies at moments reminded me of The Beatles. On the title track “Half Done Things,” Bugg flips the script with this recording. Programmed beats settle into the groove, making for some bouncy rhythms. Once his echo-y vocals come in, the sound becomes more raw and live-sounding. Though a hint more lo-fi than the previous sections of the album there is no doubt the melodic and catchy energy of this track. Some acoustic guitar shows a more intimate side to the artist as he performs the quiet and warm “I Found God In A Cardboard Box.” The sound grows in traction as some percussive beats join in. I felt Bugg’s vocals had a strange warbling quality to them here. But, nonetheless, this felt like a classic folk-rock song filled with warm notes. This seemed like a thought-provoking way to close the album. Chock-full of reverb and distortion added to the overall raw factor within these recordings. This rawness did not go on to hinder the album, in fact, I felt it added to to it. Brimming with infectious energy, Bugg’s seems to really deliver the goods here, bringing each section out with his creative efforts. But what I would have liked to see is Bugg’s having more musicians onboard and getting their take on this project in order to flesh out a more multifaceted undertaking. Not that Half Done Things by any means fell flat. I just think that by having more people on this could have a more creative impact on what Bugg is trying to do here. With that food for thought, I thought this was a great start. I enjoyed everything on this album and look forward to seeing where he goes from here.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Critique/insightWe are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.
Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook
Archives
May 2024
|