Flipturn

Album review by Gabrielle Groves

According to Merriam-Webster, burnout is a recent term in psychology and described as the “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength, or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” And if anyone knows about burnout, it’s indie rock band flipturn who spent two years touring and playing big-name festivals while promoting their first album, Shadowglow. Now celebrating ten years together as a band, the quintet of Dillon Basse, Tristan Duncan, Mitch Fountain, Madeline Jarman, and Devon VonBalson have a new album out, and are about to embark on another massive headlining tour throughout the United States. 

Burnout Days marks the second full-length album release for the Jacksonville, FL-based band who began playing house shows in a garage. The creation of their sophomore album took place at a cabin in North Carolina as well as Sonic Ranch in Texas, a quiet contrast to being on stage in front of crowds of cheering fans. On the concept of the album, Basse explains, “This record is about being OK with it [burnout], and finding ways to cope with it. We love what we do. These songs are stories about the side effects." Jarman added, “More than anything we've ever written before, this record is partially inspired by nature in our home state of Florida: cicadas, rivers, sunlight, dragonflies, and butterflies."

The record has an ethereal sound made up of synthesizers, soft guitars, deep lyrics, and the melodic voice of Basse. Burnout Days would be a perfect album for fans of alternative artists such as The Band CAMINO, Tame Impala, and Cage The Elephant. Songs like ‘Rodeo Clown’ and ‘Tides’ address the common yet isolating themes of societal pressure, and anxiety from the unpredictability of change. Other tracks, such as ‘If It Is’ and the title track ‘Burnout Days,’ discuss the trials of love while ‘Sunlight’ is a somber song about Basse’s mother going to rehab.

So far Burnout Days has reached #8 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut USA list, and appeared on the New Music Friday and Today’s Indie Rock playlists. The band also received their own billboard in Nashville, Tennessee promoting the album. In addition, flipturn performed ‘Rodeo Clown’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live ahead of the album’s release date. The Burnout Days Tour kicks off on February 26th in Houston, Texas with openers Odie Leigh, Krooked Kings, Arcy Drive, The Stews, and Gatlin.