·March 17, 2025·3 min read

‘Kick My Tires’ by Blueburst is an EP that Uses its Tracks to Layer the Empoweried Meaning of its Main Track

‘Kick My Tires’ by Blueburst is a four-track post-punk rock EP that takes a fan favourite track from the artist’s debut album ‘Significance’ and layers it. Each version of the track adds more emotional depth to the energetic track, allowing it’s meaning to penetrate and stay with the listener, pulling the meaning further with each rendition.

This EP consists of a ‘Kick Mix’ (by Ben Etter), the track’s original album version, its instrumental and a ‘Nebraska Version’. This last one is a stripped down acousitc version of the track, recorded on a vintage four-track cassette with minimal effects.

This EP’s layered approach adds dimension to the track, while the listeners are confronted with the full-scope of its interesting melodies.

Check out the latest news: South Park Creators Produced Lamar’s Debut Comedy Movie ‘Whitney Springs’ – Releasing July 2025

‘Kick My Tires’: Immersive Layering

‘Kick My Tires’: ‘Kick Mix’, Original and Instrumental

We begin with the raw, percussion heavy rhythms of ‘Kick My Tires-Kick Mix’, a track that explodes while highlighting the song’s dynamic rhythms. You’re immediately pulled into the rhythm, energy and attitude of the track, this melody that seems to push at you with thumping power.

This percussion kicks at you, not fully drowning out the rhythm, energetic rhythm of the guitars, but simply amplifying that rhythm. This while our narrator kicks at their own inertia, wanting for more and pulling at themselves to get it.

“…I think it’s past time for me to get up and take the wheel…

…I’m ready to deal…”.

The next track is the original mix of ‘Kick My Tires’, that keeps up the energy from the last, while properly introducing us to those kinetic guitar melodies. The melodies cascade downwards, almost spiralling into somewhere dark by the time we get to the guitar solo.

This while the narrator reflects on what seeminly kick started their journey. The lyrics and rhythmic soundscape feel like their responding to a calling, marching towards that purpose with determination. Determination dripping with a sprialling, descending attitude.

“…So kick my tires…

…Uncross my wires….”.

‘Kick My Tires- Instrumental’ captures the cascading, almost heady mix of attitude and energy that informs the mood of the song. It proves that the driving force of the narratives comes from the energy of the instrumental, highlighting the darkness by the expansive pull of its guitar solo.

This informing the full, whole and almost unrelenting nature of the track’s message and energy to its fullest.

‘Kick My Tires- Nebraska Version’ and Conclusion

The final track on the EP ‘Kick My Tires- Nebraska Version’, is a more stripped down, acoustic version of the track. Its minimal style holding in it the track’s vulnerable core while creating a full image of the song’s empowered message. It also shows us that song’s rhythmic core is found in its guitar rhythms, ones that feel whole and in constant motion.

‘Kick My Tires’ by Blueburst as a whole feels as though it tells a full, vulnerable and emotionally charged story. Its fullness seems to lie in its energetic, rhythmic soundscape and insightful, quick-paced lyrics. All this leading to a full, whole narrative that feels empowering and whole.

The Artist

Blueurst is the musical brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Craig Douglas Miller (The Reach), in collaboration with Marty Willson-Piper (The Church, The Saints, All About Eve). Their debut album, Significance, is Miller’s first musical output in 20 years, resurrecting a career he’d once written off. Blueburst’s music takes on guitar-based alt-rock, rooted in 80’s post-punk and alternative but with a timeless feel.