Southampton singer-songwriter Sean McGowan’s debut album ‘Son Of The Smith’ blows away the X-Factor faux first world problems that plague the social media whores of fame and it’s “validate me” friends generation. Acoustic opener ‘Mind The Doors’ acts as a quick album/journey introduction before ‘Cuppa Tea’ slices through the ordinary with Jamie T attitude and accent. The independent sound is married with some cleverly perceived slang, rhyming bus lane lyrics that open up a whole new avenue of wordplay and exploration. ‘Romance Ain’t Dead’ has one of the catchiest, arms in the air choruses of 2018 with its subtle brass accompaniment that promotes it to the musical Premier league. ‘Skin & Bones (& Blood & Moaning) peels away at the layers of prejudice while ‘Porky Pies’ and ‘Oh My Days’ both bristly bubble away. The wallet squeezing payday loaned ‘Mind Your Head’ gives way to the sublimely sad ‘Springhill’. The albums longest cut is the steel guitar, note holding, seven-plus minute epic ‘Local Boy’. The easy-going ‘Autopilot’ is shadowed by some sublime acoustic verse of self-doubt, anxiety and delicate hope. ‘Off The Rails’ speeds into Stella street before album closer ‘Mind The Gap’ ducks for cover from rain covered Streets and leads us home via the desperately insular underground. Sean McGowan has delivered an album of emotion, guile, guts and pavement poetry, it’s a stunning debut, truly stunning.
Sean McGowan
SON OF THE SMITH
Xtra Mile Recordings
9/10