Even if Paris Texas hadn’t released any music, 2025 would have been a big year for them regardless. Felix and Louie have been opening for Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA tour, and have had an incredible opportunity to try and win over some new fans who may not have heard one of rap’s best duos yet. Judging by them working to get, not just one, but two new EPs out into the world while they’re still deep into the trenches of this tour, I don’t think they plan to miss out on this golden opportunity. Both EPs and their combined twelve new full songs (and two skits) give a meal for returning fans to sink their teeth into and a fantastic entry point for new listeners to get a good understanding of Paris Texas‘ incredible versatility.
There’s no mistaking Paris Texas’ incredible sound once you first hear it, and each EP laid groundwork to expand on it while still enhancing their roots. The first of the two, They Left Me With The Sword, is a bit longer and has a heavier and darker sound that you’d find on MID AIR or will hear on its companion. “Tantrum” was already a heavy, bassier track before the mid-track beat switch at slightly after the two minute mark where many Paris Texas tracks end, then it goes to another level with some of the best flows you’ll hear this year. They almost go full emo on “Red Eyes & Blue Hearts” production wise and it’s one of the only tracks they’ve done with nearly no rap, just some wonderful Kevin Abstractesque autotuned crooning. While The Sword is consistently a bit harder and darker there’s one small exception on “infinyte”. It definitely has major lead single energy and is incredibly vibrant and energetic with some uptempo and quick bars.
By comparison, They Left Me With A Gun is a bit lighter on the ears and easier and quicker to digest. “mudbone” has an incredibly captivating hook. It’s a breeze to listen to with a bunch of quick burst fire lines that pull you in quickly. If you liked some of the more rock-focused tracks Paris Texas has done in the past, “No Strings” will be one of your favorites from the pair. The instrumentation is wonderful and it’s probably the most serious track off either EP lyrically as they delve into attachments, not wanting kids/family, and yet still wanting someone at the end of the day. The intro track “Superstar” rips hard, with my favorite beat, and favorite verse (Felix’s verse) off the EP.
Both The Sword and A Gun (gotta refer to it like an edgy Pokémon game) have a lot more homages to some of the duo’s rap influences and each is pretty fun to see. Right before the second chorus on “Dogma 25” they let loose (formerly A$AP) Ferg’s signature ad-lib – which was a perfect match for one of the EP’s most energetic tracks. You can pick up some influence from Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert’s rage style in the quick and occasional overdone vocal effects on both “mudbone” and “Stripper Song”. There’s a little version of that Uzi scream thing they’ve been doing in their recent work but that’s not a particularly unique sound and they may have come up with it on their own. Beyond rap, I think there’s a bit of Foo Fighters influence on “Red Eyes & Blue Hearts” and a smidge of Queens of the Stone Age and Arctic Monkey influence on “H A L O”. That lil vocal effect on the ‘ooowh’ sounds exactly like something Turner and Homme used to do. And ‘Stone Age’ is actually used in the song. Coincidence? Probably.
On top of being one of the best albums of 2023, MID AIR also demonstrated that Felix and Louie have some of the funniest wordplay in the game. That continues over these new EPs. ‘If you ever see me in a drop, Banana peeling out the fuckin lot, Juandissimo I’m rippin’ off the top’ is probably the hardest a song has made me actually laugh in months. The little mocking of the English and their odd name for cigarettes on “Twin Geeker” was great as well. The frequent Arthurian-sounding narrator actually works very well in keeping the mood light and humorous. I’m normally not a huge fan of this sort of thing but I actually found the writing for it pretty funny.
The Sword and A Gun are near locks to be two of my favorite EPs of the year. While they may not be massive style departures from what Paris Texas have done before, they’re excellent expansions into what made them strong in the first place. There’s still a lot they can continue to enhance with this style, working in a lot of stylistic references and homages was a nice added touch and something I’d be curious to see if they continue. I don’t expect an album from Paris Texas this year with the Tyler tour lasting till deep into summer, but I’m going to be eagerly waiting for what I hope next year brings.
