There are two things that you hope to find when you drop the virtual needle on the digital record for purposes of review. It’s great if you are presented with a sound that is, in some way, unique, or at least more than just toeing the line. It’s even better if you get that and realise that the artist also has something to say. It doesn’t have to be The Gettysburg Address or a proposition from Wittgenstein, but it would be nice to be faced with something more than the usual self-aggrandisement and cliche.
Thankfully, James M Laroque gives us both via his latest single, “All About Me.” It’s an interesting sound, like power-pop heading into rock territory – a marvellous and mercurial blend, part late-era Beatles, part ELO part Zappa-esque quirk, part Flaming Lips cinematics. And then, shot through with cool motifs, the odd country twang, a bit of alt-pop groove, lush harmonies and sweet guitar work.
And then there are the lyrics, an articulate musing on ego and the Me, Me, Me Too generation and those in love with their own, distorted and fake idea of themselves.
Imagine if the mainstream charts were full of music like this. They could be; in fact, they should be. After all, the song ticks all the right boxes for beat and, groove and infectiousness and accessibility and fun. Remember when mainstream music was fun? Haven’t all those dance-routine, guest-rapper, lowest common denominator pop chancers had it their way for far too long? Yes, and songs like this could be the fight back…. wouldn’t that be something to behold?
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