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EP Review // STATE CHAMPS ‘Unplugged’

Ten years on and State Champs are proving that they are more refined and adept than ever with the release of their heartfelt and captivating EP, Unplugged.

GIG GOER

State Champs Unplugged 2020

Consisting of four original and two reimagined tracks, State Champs’ Unplugged is a delightful EP that puts the band’s creative talents on full blast. Dabbling in a handful of genres, the four-piece strings together songs that are brimming with both affection and frustration.     

From the lyricism to folk-inspired acoustics to the smooth sax solos, everything about the opening track, A Thousand Hearts, is stunning. Sweetly romantic lyrics are enhanced by the catchy melody. The scene’s favourite saxophonist, Saxl Rose aka Antonio Hancock, joins the band on A Thousand Hearts, evoking feelings of sangria sunsets spent laughing with friends where the million to-do lists fade away and you feel blissfully at ease. Saxl Rose’s appearance is unexpected but is an incredibly welcome addition to the EP.

The Recipe is sundrenched and warm. The soft, snappy beat aligns with golden, nostalgic-feeling guitars. Derek DiScanio’s vocals shine on this track as he effortlessly reaches into his falsetto. Although this is an acoustic record, you can’t take the electric guitar out of Tyler Szalkowski’s deft hands. Solos feature across more than half the songs, including during the bridge of The Recipe and in its follow-up, 10 AM. Of all the tracks on Unplugged10 AM is the most experimental. Alongside the electric guitar, State Champs introduce twinkling synths to the mix. It is unlike any of the other tracks on Unplugged or released by the band previously.

Crying Out Loud is just as good now as it was when the band dropped it during their anniversary livestream in June. While this was the most troublesome track for the band to get right, the EP’s lead single hits all the right notes. With a chorus and energy that will stay with you long after the song finishes, passionate lines like “You were all that I want but now you made me believe / That I can’t depend on anyone after all” beg you to scream along in your car.

While both Criminal and Dead & Gone retain the essence of the Living Proof versions, the reimagined renditions stand on their own. Dead & Gone is like the drowsy, melancholic cousin of its original. Small changes to the lyrics are striking; in the original, DiScanio energetically sings, “I wanna get some fucking sleep again,” but in this reimagining, the line sounds emotionally exhausted: “I wanna finally get some sleep again.” While still similar, the sentiments and delivery morph the song into a heart-wrenching plea. In those three and a half minutes, a subtle countrification of Dead & Gone also occurs, which is the overarching tone of both these reimaginations. The western influence is more apparent on Criminal, where twangy string slides embellish the high-energy of the song.

Although this is an acoustic record, the State Champs fire is far from extinguished. The original tracks, particularly The Recipe and Crying Out Loud, keep the peppiness fans know and love while A Thousand Hearts showcases their vulnerable side. The reimagined tracks from Living Proof hold the essence of their original counterparts. Emotionally charged, the familiar spunky spirit remains through all six tracks of Unplugged making this EP a sure-to-be fan favourite.