Adam Grant - My World

Adam Grant - My World

County Down native Adam Grant announced his arrival into the world of albums with his debut My World. A local at heart and in his work, Grants songs are funny and human in equal measure, with folky lyrics and a punky vibe providing an image not unlike a poor mans Frank Turner. Influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Green Day, My World is a quirky and enjoyable album with some faults. Occasionally, Grant comes across as muted or lacking in his score arrangement, and (as with most debut albums) repetition is noticeable. The saving grace lies within the lyrics, wherein Grant flexes his writing chops to create some relatable and mortal musical poetry.

Album opener My Crowd sets the tone of the album. With its use of colloquial language, sang in Grants vernacular (side note: singing in your natural accent will always put you in my good books), My Crowd is, at its essence, a love song dedicated to Grant’s friends and his home. In a typical bog gothic fashion, Grants combination of both humorous and heartbreaking lyrics (“Gary’s in the corner taking gear again, he's says it's not a problem but those pills are his only friend…”) pair well alongside the upbeat indie-folk guitar and the fireside singalong chorus.

Not to be outdone, Grant's third song What if’s and But’s. A slow burner, with a sombre bluegrass strumming opener that builds the surface tension before Grant plunges headfirst into the punk-folk foot-stomper that makes up the rest of the song. A genuine pogo sticking beat with shades of The Undertones that breaks down into a grimy, wonderfully distorted riff-heavy climax, before picking up again amidst Grants Ramone-esque backing vocals, all of which serves only to solidify Grant's punk credentials.

A refreshing change of pace comes in songs such as Closed Doors and particularly Your Love, an ode to his mother and father. More mature and reflective and better for it, we see Grant at his most vulnerable and open, which I have found is where his true strengths lie. The singer-songwriter has a fantastic talent for expressing his pain in a very real way without sounding martyristic, something even accomplished songwriters struggle with. Soul-filled vocals, fresh and raw lyrics and a patient acoustic only track confer an added depth that makes each verse both honest and heartbreaking.

A solid album with a strong theme of folk, punk and honesty, Grant has found a style that plays to his strengths, most notably his accomplished work as a lyricist and poet. While his more buoyant songs tend towards the predictable, his slower motor seems to be his strong suit, as it helps elevate his multifaceted talents to a new level. An album not without its faults, but ultimately solid and enjoyable.  

3/5