Circus Mind has been teasing their upcoming EP “Barstool Hero” for a while now, and this past week we got to hear the titular track. Starting off with a gentle reggae beat and evolving with elements of rock and psychedelia, Barstool Hero is an incredible single that manages to entertain while also showcasing the band’s capabilities
What’s interesting about this track is its duality. The principal melody makes the song accessible on its surface, but there’s an intricate underbelly hidden for the more discerning listener that is a testament to the band’s musicianship.
Mark Rechler’s powerful roaring vocals begin ramping up the intensity at about the 1:30 mark, but this is just a feint that drops back into easy reggae-psychedelia. The instrumental sections on Barstool Hero are especially impressive, with the impeccable chemistry showing in how the guitars, drums, and keys come together in the shifts from reggae to rock.
Lyrically, the single delivers an incredible story that feels epic, but yet has no clear narrative structure. It complements the musical experimentation and hints at a deeper concept that might be explored in the EP.
But the standout of this track is the closing guitar solo which kicks in as sort of the third movement of the track. Despite being so thematically distinct from the rest, the transition into this section is seamless and you don’t realise what happened until the sonic wall hits you.
Overall, Barstool Hero is a standout single that marries a sly reggae pulse to a cinematic arc. It’s hooky enough for casual spins, but deep enough to reward repeats, serving as an effective prologue to the album.