Declan McKenna: What Do You Think About The Car?

Shocked by the Guardian's four star review of a white indie male, I decided to give Declan Mckenna's debut album "What Do You Think About The Car?" a deeper listen.

Signed to Columbia records, I had him dubbed as another George Ezra- esque musician: smooth, tuneful and an easy listen. These simple nursery rhyme rhythms and meaningless lyrics by pretty young white boys seem to be what record labels think the UK is in need of in the midst of this politically crazy time. It's all you hear when listening to the news. It's all you talk about when you're with friends. It's all you see when you watch TV. So why do people want it to be addressed in music as well?

However, Declan Mckenna's debut album does not act as a form of escapism from this inane society. Instead, this talented and politically aware 18 year old, who in 2015 won Glastonbury Festival's emerging talent competition, uses his refreshing and relevant songwriting skills to expand these issues internationally. His first single and one of the album's highlights is "Brazil". This twinkly tune is about FIFA's corrupt choice to host the World Cup in Brazil despite the country's mass poverty. In contrast, it has a pleasant, catchy chorus sang with the typical indie male husk that is currently infesting today's music scene; the one which voices the straining effort of a desperation to sound unique. Yet McKenna manages to achieve this uniqueness and individuality on his new record through the topical subjects of his songs."The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home" could be argued as his most "woke" piece as it addresses the run up to Brexit post Paris Bataclan terror attacks whilst highlighting the lack of power teenagers face in a society where "neighbours complain but don't know where they come from". "Isombard" is about The Black Lives Matter Movement, "Paracetamol" faces transgender suicide and the closing track "Listen To Your Friends" leaves him as a voice of a generation as he tackles the UK's welfare system through the controversy of children taking holidays during term time.

On the opening track "Humongous", his sound becomes more experimental and creative as it progresses with it's snappy production and sizeable chorus.

To see a politically and culturally alert album released by a young white indie male signed to a mainstream label restores hope and excitement for an indie scene that has become mundane and mainstream.

His critical commentary on current events through songs that are enjoyable for the typical Ed Sheeran fan to listen to allows him Radio 1 air play. This clever combination of controversial lyrics mixed with conventional melodies is a bright way of discretely and very slightly introducing young people to the idea of questioning society, discussing politics and having an opinion.

I am by no means saying he's some sort of music revolution. But considering he is only 18 and projecting a fresh mind into a dull industry, I am really looking forward to his future work and eager to see whether his guaranteed success will finally shake up today's tedious indie scene.