Tom Odell – Black Friday

Still basking in the glory of the heart-wrenching anthem Another Love, Tom Odell’s fans are now treated to his latest release: the sombre, simple and musically haunting Black Friday. Throughout his successful career, the 33-year-old singer-songwriter has demonstrated a peculiar ability to simultaneously inhabit his own body, gazing from the inside out, and that of an observer looking in from the outside. This duality lends his songs a distinctive relatability, touching on themes of love, loss and the feeling of being trapped under the glitz and glamour that come with celebrity; often feeling immobilised.

In Black Friday, Odell strips away all the glamour, leaving only his very own raw flesh attached to the bones of 13 melancholic, slower songs – and even a voice note. All are deeply heartfelt, if not entirely memorable.

The titular track, Black Friday, pulls the listener in from the opening verse. From partying with the wrong crowd to now watching the party happen instead, Odell lays all his vulnerabilities bare, reflecting on the trajectory of his life. “I want to go party / I want to have fun,” he says, defeated, incapacitated to do so, and then, “It’s all in my head.” He deftly explores growing old, not recognising the person in the mirror, drenched in deep melancholy while life, love and joy still find a way to sneak inside, even though he doesn’t feel good enough to receive such blessings. The music impeccably reflects the raw emotionality of the song, with a spine-chilling climax towards the end that makes it one of the highlights of this album, and possibly of Odell’s career. The record could have benefited from more powerful moments like these, with musical build-ups that allow the singer to fully showcase his vocal prowess.

Themes of nostalgia and the passage of time are also central in the sincere The End of Summer. Odell delicately narrates the ephemeral nature of a connection, exploring its entire life cycle and every stage of acceptance, from grief and reminiscence to eventual acknowledgement of its end. The final track, The End, stands out as another highlight. There’s an enchanting and mesmerising quality to this piano-led slow ballad, be it the haunting music or Odell’s narration of a doomed love story: “Oh give me back my oxygen / You’ll say / Do you think we can be friends? / Or maybe we have reached The End.” Yet again, inner turmoil is delivered to the listener with intoxicating calm instead of fiery rage – and it works.

Overall, Black Friday is a well-narrated, introspective and, at times, self-deprecating journey that shows the singer-songwriter’s willingness to take risks. Some tracks, like the titular track and The End, pay off well, standing out as a testament to his storytelling.

Inner turmoil delivered with sombre and calm acceptance: welcome to Tom Odell’s new era.

Benedetta Mancusi

Black Friday is released on 26^th January 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Tom Odell’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Black Friday here: