Ethan Burns – “22 Knots” (audio) (premiere)

“22 Knots” brings to mind the smell of a salt breeze, whether from a coastal wind or urban sprawl. Equal parts vintage rock ‘n’ roll and vintage revival a la the Black Keys, Ethan Burns’ newest track slinks forward over a red-hot bed of castanets and sultry guitar, all propelled by Burns’ vital folk-rock croon. Its pained trudge is rock in its most troubadour sense, the sound of getting away from the grind just to stay lucid. If you’re looking for a sweltering old-school rock song to get you through the mid-week grind, this is for you.

Of the song, Ethan Burns says, “It’s about a lonely man taking to the emotional high seas to try and escape his worries, then has second thoughts.”

Burns releases his first EP on September 30 through Fairfax Recordings. Stream “22 Knots” below.