If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with burnout, you may be entitled to musical compensation!

The indie rock band flipturn has recently released their sophomore album Burnout Days, a rhythmic and bright collection of songs that explores the band’s personal experiences with burnout as they toured their 2022 debut album Shadowglow.

Burnout Days was released January 24, 2025, written collaboratively by the band’s members Dillon Basse (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Tristan Duncan (lead guitar), Mitch Fountain (guitar and synth), Madeline Jarman (bass), and Devon VonBalson (drums and percussion), with Chad Copelin as producer. The album is a joy to listen to, energetic with amazing instrumentals and incredible vocals while also containing gritty, hard-hitting, and relatable lyricism which we’ll dive into a bit more.

On flipturn’s website, the band talks through the thought process behind their newest release, describing their vision of the album as “one that measured the distance between endurance and exhaustion, between dreams and reality, between outward appearances and internal struggles.” I think they successfully explore these themes in engaging and beautiful ways throughout the album. Let’s talk through some of the songs!

“Rodeo Clown”

One of the album’s bigger hits, released first as a single, “Rodeo Clown” introduces a steady drumbeat woven with synth, later complemented by some electric guitar, written as “an alt-pop anthem about the weight of everyday expectations and the lure of escapism.” The opening verses reference MDMA, a lure of escapism to cope with the weight of everyday expectations communicated directly in the chorus of the song.

(Chorus)

I’ve been feeling the weight of everything

Yeah, babe, I hold it down

Floating into the same old empty

I feel it now

The chorus also plays with themes of endurance and exhaustion, from “I hold it down” to “floating into the same old empty.” The description of a rodeo clown brings up imagery of a performer holding tightly to a bucking bull with a grandiose grin, showy makeup streaked with dust and sweat. It is a theatrical outward appearance in contrast to inner struggles, a desire for distraction from the burden of reality, and an uncomfortably familiar mindset. A toast to our vices, helping us cope with existence as the world spins and spins and never stops.

“Sunlight”

The song “Sunlight” was written by lead vocalist Dillon Basse “after watching his little sister take their mother (a Celtic folksinger who introduced her children to live music at a young age) to rehab.” A track that speeds and slows from verse to chorus to crescendo, with guitar riffs that elevate absolutely fantastic vocals. Lyrics further explore the deeply embedded beliefs that keep us in loops of behaviors, despite our longings to change.

(Verse 1)

Everyone’s been asking me, honey

How are you gonna handle yourself?

Looking at the family tree

It might be something that you’re dealt

The first verse makes us think about how much we’ve inherited from our parents, what our parents have taken from their parents, and so on. Wondering what is new and what is recycled from generation to generation, and were we always bound to turn out like this? It can make us reflect on what keeps us stuck, and how much we can really change ourselves to fix these fundamental fractures. The line “everyone’s been asking” is repeated throughout the song. Asking “how are you gonna handle yourself?” and “what’s your truth?” Asking who you are is a simple question, isn’t it? One that you of all people should know, and you do but also you don’t, and you keep tripping over the same stones as you try to figure it out.

“Right?”

With less context of the song’s meaning from the band, this track feels like the frantic need to prove your worth and make a meaningful impact on the world (with some undertones of imposter syndrome). Drums and guitar take turns backing vocals before coming together during the chorus and a wonderfully raucous finale.

(Chorus)

But all you’re asking for

Is just a little more time

To prove some existence

In some existential war

Through all the blood and gore

‘Cause people admire persistence

The chorus mentions the desire for more time “to prove some existence” and what a line, because you feel like that too, right? We are so young, but soon we won’t be, and isn’t that terrifying? We are both determined to be remembered and afraid of being forgotten and to make an impact takes so much time. A time that goes and goes and goes, and we swear we’ll do something amazing tomorrow but today we’re just so tired. The imposter syndrome comes in with the lines “yeah, you second-guess everything, the second you’re capable.” We finally make these impacts and do these amazing things but we doubt our place, wondering if we are qualified or deserving. We ask ourselves if we are meant to be there (and the answer is yes, by the way).

Final Thoughts

Burnout sucks but this album sure doesn’t! I probably listened to it 20 times as I wrote this analysis and never got tired of the sound. I am no stranger to burnout, and it’s likely you feel the same, so being able to dig deep into such a beautiful depiction of a group’s experience with burnout was such a wonderful opportunity and I had a lot of fun with my first album review! Thanks for coming along!

My favorite songs on the album!

I highly recommend listening to the entire album, but here are some of the songs that I enjoyed the most!

“Burnout Days”

The title track of the album, I don’t think there’s a track that would be better a fit with its great sound and lovely lyrics. A fantastic song with wonderfully mixed instrumentals and strong vocals alongside an ethereal sound like echoing stars.

“Moon Rocks”

An amazing tune, the instrumentals and vocals complement each other really well for a rhythmic sound. Also the drums go hard!

“Window”

A chiller song than some of the others with sweet guitar, gentle bass, and soft vocals. Lyrics hum about the overwhelming desire to be known.

Want more?

Did I get you hooked? Great news! flipturn is touring in Portland, OR on March 9th, 2025 at the McMenamins Crystal Ballroom with Krooked Kings. Go see them live!

You can get directed to tickets through flipturn’s website https://flipturn.band/pages/tour

I also recommend listening to their debut album Shadowglow and their other EPs!