EP REVIEW: Unplugged EP – Bones UK
Unplugged shows and albums/EPs have become a staple within the music industry, whether done for the MTV show, or because the band wants to. It can showcase the band’s talent and also show their songs can work without the high tech usually found on stage and in studios. Some can pull this off well, others can leave themselves exposed to ridicule. But how about BONES UK? With their own unplugged EP, as well as an accompanying film, were they able to show they could place their own music in different settings without losing its integrity?
Whilst the band ditched a lot of the harsh instrumentation, save for a guitar and bass, they added a lot of string elements, like cellos and violins, prominent in the introduction of Beautiful Is Boring and parts of Souls. In each case, with making the musical accompaniment softer, there’s still the sharp and fighting words within the lyrics that don’t lose any of their bite. Rosie Bones’ vocals are still as stunning as ever. The unplugged sound actually shows the strength of the band’s music, especially with the Grammy-nominated Pretty Waste, still with its spunk and jammy nature. Black Blood also shows the poetic nature in the band’s lyrics and how that matches in the music, and Filthy Freaks still oozes that sex power and the stripped-back style assists this a lot to elevate the lyrics.
Overall, this is a strong EP and delivers on the talent that exhibits that BONES UK is a force to be reckoned with. With upcoming performances at festivals like Welcome To Rockville, they’re not to be missed out on. This EP is great for both new fans and old; the long-term fans will get to experience something familiar but in a new take and done exceptionally well, and the newer fans can have this EP as a taste of what their music is like before moving on to their debut album. Strong, soft, punchy, atmospheric; this EP has it all and should not be slept on in the slightest.
Rating: 9/10
Unplugged EP is out now via Sumerian Records.
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