aaamusic | On 16, Apr 2012

From humble beginnings in local Tunbridge Wells’ music venue, the Grey Lady to Latitude and Glastonbury Festival, as well as Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Tom Williams & the Boat have dived into the indie music scene, coming up for air to make their second album release after their debut, Too Slow.

Teenage Blood has an overriding theme to it, being summed up perfectly in the album title, that of young love and countless references to blood and bones. In particular, Teenage Blood, There’s A Stranger and Emily tell the stories of teenage love.

‘My girl got a job but she won’t tell me what she does. I never see her anymore; she’s the one I love… I have teenage blood and a teenage heart I tell anyone I can but I don’t know where to start. I started falling apart.’

The lyrics to the opener, Teenage Blood, introduces the theme of the album. The lyrics are simple but also heartfelt, effective and very reminiscent of teenage feelings of love. There is a country and folk influence alongside indie pop and this comes through the guitar and violin as well as the vocals. The tip-toeing drums and subtle violins amongst the pre-chorus vocals create a toe-tapping catchiness which extends to the chorus and will stick in your head long after the song ends.

Too Young follows on similar themes in a classic indie pop style with prominent electric guitar.

‘But I think we’re too young to really know what’s going on.’

The lyrics are narrative and charming, and alongside the captivating guitar and faint melancholic violin make for something very catchy indeed.

Drums become more prominent in Little Bit in Me, supported by violin and some great guitar lines.

‘My sister was a referee… Showing yellow cards to rapists and thieves…My father… jailed for arson and not the first, killed himself with a home chemistry kit… Everyone is a little bit in me. All of them a little bit in me… And my best friend made millions with cocaine…’

The narrative to Little Bit in Me is a lot darker to the previous two but is just as, if not more, excellent.

Neckbrace (Big Wave) and the single, My Bones, make more connections between love and bones/blood. Both songs are consistent and melodic but probably not as good as some of the earlier songs on the album, which are brilliant. As the album goes on it seems to lose a little bit of its liveliness. The lyrics on these two in particular are not as good as those on Little Bit in Me, for example.

The album ends with the heartfelt, Emily. It’s probably not the best song to end the album with, being that its one of the more melancholic songs, however, it’s very intimate and bridges the gap where some of the more upbeat songs seem a bit less so.

Overall, a fine album with an interesting overriding concept. The BBC have compared the band to Radiohead, the White Stripes and Frank Turner. They kind of remind me a little of Noah and the Whale and Frank Turner. The album is released on the 23rd of April and is worth checking out if you’re interested in folk and country tinged indie pop.

★★★★★

Author: Rose Benge