Rvrside place themselves among legends on Bullet With Butterfly Clips, their latest EP that combines original work with covers of iconic songs by Taylor Dayne, Ace of Base, and Green Day. The band is made up of Jessica Vaughn, whose work as JPOLND has been featured on Netflix’s period hit Bridgerton, Curtis Peoples, who has written with alt-rock acts like Pierce the Veil, and Colin CreeV, who plays keyboard and guitar in Third Eye Blind.

The project opens with “Love Me Like the End of the World,” which the group describes as “a love song for the apocalypse,” before turning to a rendition of “Tell It to My Heart,” Taylor Dayne’s 1987 debut single. From the start, the EP spins on modern synths and beats with a retro flair, giving just the right amount of throwback energy while still maintaining a unique sound.

“Twisted,” the second original track on Bullet With Butterfly Clips, lets Jessica show off her fluttering vocals and insist she’ll “love [someone] like an enemy” over a scattered, frantic rhythm that mirrors the relationship’s peril. The project takes a darker turn on “Beautiful Life,” a sinister, enticing take on Ace of Base’s 1995 “carpe diem” anthem. These two songs are where the band’s signature combination of alt-rock guitars and drums with synths and electronic tones gets to shine, making a fun climax for their debut.

Rvrside take a more poppy approach with “New Age” and welcome listeners to a new era, making it the perfect penultimate track for the project. The EP closes with a cover of Green Day’s “Welcome to Paradise,” which was the first track fans got to hear back in September 2020. Concluding just as energetically as it started, Bullet With Butterfly Clips is undoubtedly one of the most crucial listens of the year for any alternative rock or pop fans.

You can find Bullet With Butterfly Clips on your favorite streaming services now, and connect with Rvrside on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, and Twitter!