Racoon is a pivotal EP for Tip Stevens, marking the halfway point of his Road to Olympia. Let’s jump into this splendid EP’s review.
RACOON – TIP STEVENS
Tip Stevens has reached a new milestone with Racoon. It’s his third EP out of five planned before his headline show at the Olympia in November, meaning he’s now over halfway there, especially as he’s also currently on tour. After Mamba and Fireflies, this marks a return to a clean, punchy, slightly unhinged rock sound, much like the coffee-crazed raccoon army featured on the cover. That energy absolutely seeps into this EP. It doesn’t hit you straight away though. Opening track It’s Not a Love Song kicks off with pop-tinged riffs that echo the previous release, but be warned… The chorus is much more vibrant, more saturated, more chaotic. This track serves as a bridge, linking the old and new, and introduces a shift in style while keeping Tip Stevens’ signature sound intact.
On Sirens, the drums lock into a deep, captivating tempo while the vocals and guitars soar into higher notes during the verses. The chorus hits hard, it’s epic, it has storytelling, it’s grand. And then, the contrast with F.T.L. is pretty striking. This track is, without question, my personal favourite. Let me explain. It’s a song about the lyrics, their meaning, writing yet forgetting them, their impact… It dives into the artist’s mind, anxious over his words, yet somehow manages to be wildly cathartic and fun. With razor-sharp riffs and chaotic momentum, it sweeps us into a five-minute whirlwind. And suddenly, the raccoon army makes perfect sense.
To close the EP, Tip Stevens searches for a bit of sunshine with Sunny Days. Once again, it’s epic, tender yet punchy, optimistic and immense. It’s sincere, visceral, personal and universal all at once. It hits deep. Tip’s voice shines through with remarkable power once more. For me, Racoon isn’t quite as mad as one might have expected, but it’s undoubtedly intense. Intense in emotion, in its laughter and tears, in its hopes and doubts. And while Tip Stevens shows versatility once again, Racoon confirms and deepens many elements of his music that continue to evolve and grow.
