Local Review: Jerry Auburn — May Your Eyes Well Up With Blood

Jerry Auburn
May Your Eyes Well Up With Blood
Smoking Nun Recordings
Street: 02.18.2025
Jerry Auburn = Radiohead + Daniel Caesar

If you’re looking for a record to put on while you kick back and reevaluate your life, Jerry Auburn’s EP, May Your Eyes Well Up With Blood, is the answer.

This is the first release for Auburn, and saying it’s phenomenal would be an understatement. The versatility of his musicianship is pristine, using piano, guitar and what sounds like a saxophone. The project was released by Salt Lake City record label Smoking Nun Recordings in February 2025. It strikes me as a surprise that this record hasn’t received much attention because it deserves it. Running just shy of 20 minutes, this album is filled with happiness, anger, sadness, nostalgia, hopefulness and hopelessness. Auburn’s vulnerability is shown in the rawest of ways, like in the track “Without A Word,” where it’s just him and an acoustic guitar. The approach of his vocals changes throughout, at times soft to emotional or emotional to intense. This album’s a roller coaster, and I’m not talking about one where you feel sick, but one where you feel the biggest high.

The first track is titled “Spark,” but I think it should be titled “Despair.” It begins with a soft piano melody backed by the sound of rain and Auburn’s angelic vocals. The rawness of his voice and the piano alone take you to a place of remembrance and heartache as he sings, “But you, you, you left your mark, you left the spark.” Tears dropped as I closed my eyes.

Kicking it up a notch is track two, “Adam’s Tune.” With a slightly quicker tempo and funkier vibe, this song almost reminds me of a ’70s psychedelic hit — almost as if I’m on a mission in the desert. There’s a lap steel or slide guitar used throughout the track that really adds to the mystery.

“Promise” is the third track of the EP and my personal favorite. It starts off very soft with Auburn and an acoustic guitar. Once it hits the 1:30 mark, the song completely changes. More instruments kick in and he begins singing his heart out. The emotion of this song is unmatched, striking feelings of longing and yearning. A sensation of aching overcame me as I sank deeper into Auburn’s lyrics.

“Without A Word” is the next track and is one that demonstrates the true talent of Auburn. An acoustic track with vocals and minimal instrumentation, this song could be described as relaxing. It reminds me of a Daniel Caesar song, relying heavily on the strength and beauty of his vocals.

“Cosmic” is the fifth track and a very R&B tune. This song is just shy of four minutes and shows all of Auburn’s skills: harmonies, guitar, piano, drums, etc. Nearing the end of the song, he adds some cool electronic effects to his voice that create this space-like atmosphere. Consistently staying chill, this song reminds me of a calm Sunday morning.

What we’ve all been waiting for: the encore, “Seasons.” This track definitely feels like a closing track with the anxious suspense at the beginning. It’s like we are entering the last chapter, but instead of being the conclusion, it’s the climax. The first half of the track is very slow, but with a long buildup, screams break out at about the three-minute mark, revealing the genuine emotion of Auburn.

“Seasons” as the last track is the perfect summary of this EP. Built on introspection and vulnerability, each track is tied together and creates a journey through grief, longing and self-reflection. May Your Eyes Well Up With Blood proves that Auburn has what it takes as a future artist. It demonstrates his talent at the highest of levels, and for a debut release, the future is very promising. —Zack Pinter

Read more reviews of local music:
Local Review: Blue Hands — Loneliness
Local Review: Flamingo — Pink Paradise

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