britta raci's striking out hits a home run

britta raci swung for the rafters with her debut EP, striking out. An ambitious pop rock quartet of tracks with indie and emo elements and a nuanced narrative. Her EP chronicles the aftermath of betrayal, using baseball metaphors to illustrate the deceptions of a cheating ex-boyfriend. Mixing biting wit with unflinching honesty, raci turns personal pain into universal anthems.

The opening track, "baseball bat", rolls out with bouncing vocals and a brutally honest address to the ex. "I'm giving you up, I'm letting you go. I'm bashing my brain with a baseball bat." Every line twists with meaning. "Did not think of you screwing/ me over like that," flip the physical act into one condemning the deception. 

Even the second track's title, "pete rose", carries multiple meanings. The famous baseball player/manager banned from the sport for betting on games mirrors the shady ex's con. raci knows the deal, but can't confront the situation. "Sometimes we don't know better even when we know the truth." Her vow to "never tell anyone I love them under substance or any circumstance" is her declaration of self-preservation.

But that outlook makes you a "benchwarmer" in your own game. Exactly what the third track explores. Despite the theme, it thrums with a raucous energy. 

"third strike" closes the EP on a high-energy note. Brief moments of lyrical sarcasm rollercoaster through optimism. But the track flips the negatives with a declaration of self-worth: "My heart can take a beating like a home team."

britta raci could have stayed bitter in striking out. Instead, she filled it with empowerment—a play-by-play account of heartache, recovery, and self-discovery told with sharp lyricism and a striking sound.

Go up to bat and stream striking out below.

Ben McCoy

Ben is an advertising Madman who spends his days with words and music. When he's not writing for his supper, he's eating it at some of NYC's most interesting restaurants.