image courtesy of Big D Radio Promotions

EP Review of Evan Nicole Bell: Runaway Girl

The title track of this EP, “Runaway Girl,” will be one of your favorite songs. Ever. It’s a funky, groovy, rock ‘n roll earworm. The good kind. I mean, how was this song not ubiquitous in 2024? Well, in my world, it was, but as you know, I didn’t get to write very many reviews last year and, therefore, didn’t share this with you all. Well, I’m gonna make up for that. If you haven’t heard “Runaway Girl” yet, it can be one of your “songs of 2025.”

Evan Nicole Bell has a helluva voice! And she shows it off on this four-song EP. Technically, I suppose, it’s a 3-song EP, since two of the four songs are versions of the title track.

The disc opens with an inviting, distorted bluesy-rock guitar riff that leads to some absolutely filthy, rough, soulful vocals on Evan’s howlin’ blues-rock cover of “Catfish Blues.”

Next up is “Runaway Girl (Radio Edit),” which you’ll also find listed sometimes as “Runaway Girl (No Guitar).” Honestly, it’s such a powerful  number I hadn’t noticed the lack of guitar on the radio edit. Evan’s vocals wail, the rhythm is steady and, with a bit of variance, hooky. The whole song is memorable, and that includes the soaring “I did it for love” vocals in a mid-song bridge. As for “Runaway Girl (Extended Mix),” I do really dig the guitar lead-in at the beginning and some of the additional musicianship throughout. Clearly, though, its 6:16 runtime is less appropriate for radio play than the radio edit’s 3:58, so it makes sense to have the two versions. And it’s such a catchy song that’s so impeccably-delivered that a radio-ready version was a must.

Track three, nestled between the two versions of “Runaway Girl,” is “Burn,” a smoothly blue slow burner that showcases the softer edge of Evan’s range… well, mostly. She still hits some big notes, many of which I’d describe as wails, in all the appropriate spots throughout the course of “Burn.”

This EP is an excellent showcase for Evan’s obvious talent. I’m looking forward to what’s next, as should you. And the wait won’t be long. Actually, I’ve taken so long to write this review that there isn’t really a wait anymore. Evan has already released “River.” It’s the first single from her debut full-length LP, Shades of Blue, which is set for a January 16, 2025 release date. But hey, start here. Start with Runaway Girl. And especially with “Runaway Girl.” The EP and the song are must-hears.