Tom Grennan – Evering Road

Bedford-born Tom Grennan achieved huge success with his debut album, Lighting Matches, tipping him as a promising act for 2018. His latest release, Evering Road, confirms the upward trajectory of the 26 year-old grafter. Named after the street on which he lived with his girlfriend, 14 songs document the end of a three-year relationship. It’s a dynamic, deep-feeling letter of apologies and gratitude, attempting to make amends for a phase of toxic behaviour. Steering clear of wallowing over wrongdoings, the record’s animated sound lifts his story for a more reformed reflection. 

Much of the strength of Evering Road is owed to its structure, the order of songs supporting the linear progression of his story. Regardless, many tracks are standalone statements with individual purpose, and an urgency that will pulsate through stadiums. This Is the Place and Little Bit of Love are punchy singles, buzzing with the addictiveness of eager, crowd-capturing pop. If Only and Something Better possess similar breadth, with soulful backing vocals and jumpy piano melodies generating a blazing richness. 

Amen is driven by a heavy Hozier-style undercurrent and a chorus of powerful gospel heights. It’s a rough tracing of the internal battle of making decisions align with genuine desires, in which the artist’s rapturous sound is particularly evident. The track’s explosiveness runs the risk of being overdone, but he reins it in at its peak, leaving a strong message simmering for listeners to interpret. Grennan knows his strengths and how to use them. 

Multiple tracks distinguish this singer from mainstream pop-rock with atypical approaches and a refreshing sound. Oh Please opens euphorically, strongly inspired by Curtis Mayfield, and manifests the magnetic spirit of Manhattan. Lyrics embrace an exciting shift in mindset towards choosing grace and growth over anger when a chapter ends.

Evering Road is coloured with influences by Grennan’s inspirations, both from notable producers and from various genres. Soul is the most apparent, elevating hope amid emotional themes. Make Up My Mind is an eloquent confession from a confused heart, and Sweeter Then, also a lovely listen, is a softer apology that sparks a summer solstice nostalgia. Love Has Different Ways of Saying Goodbye, albeit bittersweet, oozes with the light-footed zest of Plan B, and closes the album, after the second half of emotive ballads that echo the weighty pull of Adele.

Tom Grennan’s absolute motivation captures all the moving parts of a challenging life transition. Despite his relative newness to the scene, the singer has a mature, heart-worn sound and charismatic energy. His devotion to doing Evering Road justice is displayed with fiery confidence, and it is hard to find songs here that won’t surely torch arenas with their momentum.

Georgie Cowan-Turner

Evering Road is released on 12^th March 2021. For further information or to order the album visit Tom Grennan’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Little Bit of Love here: