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While, by his own admission, his first two efforts were “breathtaking commercial failures,” he’s clearly become much more comfortable as a frontman.<\/p>\n
There’s a strong sense with this album of an artist throwing off the shackles and settling scores with all the naysayers who said he couldn’t make it on his own.<\/p>\n
Though many of the song\u00a0are autobiographical, Nevin manages to find a universal message in the deeply personal – the mark of a master songwriter and storyteller.<\/p>\n
What stands out is the sharpness and wit of the lyrics – the title track being a prime example.<\/p>\n
Rhyming university<\/em> with Phd <\/em>and\u00a0similarity <\/em>shows his playfulness and a keen poetic ear.<\/p>\n The song’s message is\u00a0at the heart\u00a0of the whole album, it’s about being true to yourself and having the courage not to follow the herd – being prepared to go it alone.<\/p>\n It’s a thread running through all the strongest tracks on the record, from\u00a0Punching Above My Weight<\/strong><\/em>, to the catchy rockabilly of\u00a0Curly Wurly Boy<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n In a revealing interview<\/a> with\u00a0EP <\/strong>last month, Nevin said\u00a0his experience\u00a0as a psychotherapist had shown him how people “stop themselves” from achieving their potential.<\/p>\n Songs like “Punching<\/em>…” are about that struggle, overcoming the barriers of doubt and negativity to have the faith to achieve your potential.<\/p>\n Similarly, Curly Wurly Boy<\/strong><\/em> humorously takes to task the lazy careers officers, who tried to dissuade him from a musical career in favour of a safe job at the local Cadbury factory.<\/p>\n Don’t let anyone stop you living your dream, no matter what the odds, is the clear message of the song,<\/p>\n With it’s lovely lilting, finger-style guitar, Uncertainty\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>further develops his argument, it’s all about rejecting the easy option and making a leap into the unknown “the magic is in the mystery” .<\/em><\/p>\n Brass accompaniment from\u00a0Kick Horns\u00a0<\/strong>is to the fore on\u00a0Sing Anyway<\/strong><\/em>, which is kind of a companion piece to\u00a0REM<\/strong>‘s\u00a0Everybody Hurts<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0or Morrissey’s\u00a0Do your Best and Don’t Worry<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n No matter what life throws at you, just keep singing is the simple lesson, but the central message is there again in the last line: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you\u00a0can’t”.<\/em><\/p>\n There’s more sparkling guitar on the bucolic\u00a0Laurie Lee<\/strong>-referencing Only Dreamers (Live The Dream)<\/strong><\/em>, which shows Nevin really giving full flight to his voice.<\/p>\n It might just be me, but when he really opens up,\u00a0as he does here and on songwriter’s confessional\u00a0The Stars Align,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Nevin\u00a0sounds a lot like Canadian troubadour\u00a0Ron Sexsmith<\/strong>, which is no bad thing at all.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, there’s a hymn to all the great, and maybe not so great, lost tunes on\u00a0Forgotify<\/strong><\/em> and\u00a0Dr Frankenstein makes an appearance in\u00a0Don’t Be My Echo<\/strong><\/em>, which strongly suggests that imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery.<\/p>\n If there are\u00a0any criticisms, it’s that occasionally the music – in contrast to the album’s abiding leitmotif of\u00a0getting out of your comfort zone\u00a0– is just a tad too safe and serene.<\/p>\n Pruning a couple of the slighter pieces may have also made for a stronger 10-track LP than the dozen available\u00a0here.<\/p>\n But these are minor quibbles.\u00a0My Unfashionable Opinion <\/em>is a highly intelligent, beautifully played and hugely enjoyable album.<\/p>\n Curly Wurly’s loss is unquestionably\u00a0music’s gain.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Mark_Nevin_2017-1024x648.jpg?resize=640%2C518&ssl=1\")
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