aaamusic | On 18, Sep 2011

Starting with possibly the most mellow guitar you’ll hear in rock n roll this year, Rockburn’s single ‘Finkin’ is like a campfire singalong led by Mike Ness. A hoarse, emotive vocal style pours out confessional lyrics over bluesy guitars and slow, almost ballad-esque rhythm on both drums and bass, with a heartfelt nostalgia and undertones of a social conscience. That said, there’s a slight compromise between the immediate accessibility of this charming track and its “I really mean it man” aims. On the one hand, I can slip into it like a favourite shirt, and feel right at home, yet at the same time, I know that really it’s only describing what every other kid has felt, and although that’s to be commended in its own right, at the same time I can’t help but feel that for all its being-your-best-mate, there’s something a bit shallow at play. It’s hard to judge from just the one track, maybe Rockburn does go deeper, but for me I can’t help but feel that the music is overfamiliar and the lyrics not as deep as they would like to be.

Author: Katie H-Halinski