Flipturn’s ‘Burnout Days’ hits with heart
Ayla Boose is a content writer and disc jockey-in-training for KCPR. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
My first introduction to Flipturn was the whining nostalgia of hit song “August.” Safe to say the mantra “August, honey, you were mine,” was chanted countless times by my best friends and I before we each left for our own respective colleges this past summer, leaving behind our last August together in our hometown.
With Flipturn’s new release of their sophomore album “Burnout Days,” I was curious to see if the lilting notes and flowery vocals of “Citrona,” the band’s 2018 release, would continue on. The Florida five-piece, made up of vocalist Dillon Basse, Mitch Fountain on synths, guitarist Tristan Duncan, bassist Madeline Jarman and drummer Devon VonBlasen, toed the line of endurance and exhaustion, dream and reality within each track of this record, according to Flipturn’s website.
“Juno,” the first track on the album, is filled with sonic feedback and a cosmic melody that showcases a surf rock meets Tame Impala meld of sound. The song, funnily enough, was inspired by an incident from a songwriting retreat in which guitarist and synth player Mitch Fountain accidentally dropped his Juno (JU-06A) synthesizer. The sound that escaped became the song’s opening riff.
One of the most notable features of this album is the contrast between its sunny melodies and the murky subject matter of its lyrics.
“MDMA made me love you more/ it’s all just a chemical feeling” shines as the opening line of “Rodeo Clown,” as Basse comments on substance abuse and the feelings associated with the pressure of excellence.
Other lyrics, like “Amy’s on her way to rehab again/ Lily’s gonna drive her there,” from “Sunlight,” feature Basse’s breathy hum as he details bits and pieces of his mother’s journey to sobriety. He evokes an intimacy with the audience, making this album truly about revealing oneself to the world and using music to do so.
Compared to the bright and spunky rhythms of “Citrona,” Burnout Days transports us into a star-spun portal of sound and emotion with its space-static sound, inviting listeners to look at the world through Basse’s and the rest of the band’s eyes.
Flipturn has established a signature sound, whether that’s the subtle emo pangs of drums or the Celtic cadence of its lyrics — a quiet love letter to the Celtic folk music Basse grew up listening to — fans know it’s Flipturn when they hear it.
Flipturn has found a way to strike a delicate balance — pairing sun-drenched melodies with introspective, sometimes painful lyrics. Whether it’s the hazy nostalgia of “Sunlight” or the raw vulnerability of “Rodeo Clown,” the band peels back layers of themselves with each track. Their signature blend of indie rock, synth-driven dreaminess, and emotionally charged storytelling makes Burnout Days feel both deeply personal and universally relatable. It’s an album that doesn’t just ask to be heard — it demands to be felt.
