Beans On Toast - Giving Everything (Xtra Mile Recordings)
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| Beans On Toast - Giving Everything |
I think Beans On Toast is a the
band or artist logo I have seen most without ever having heard a single note of
the music so I was quite excited to get to this album through that there
internet. One listen to this album and I realise that I think just about all of
us have a friend like Beans On Toast, whether you like it or not. You know that
guy who disapproves of everything, knows all about obscure conspiracy theories
and gives you a frown every time you eat something made by a company with
questionable ethics. Kicking things off with a rile against the monarchy,
'Harry In A Helicopter', shortly followed by the jaunty but slightly
directionless 'Things'. Then follows a whinge about not being able to get a gig
at Glastonbury called 'Can't Get A Gig At Glastonbury' which admits that it is
self-indulgent but that's about the same as starting a sentence with "I
don't want to offend you but".
The sweetly honest ode to a
guitar in the shape of 'Favourite Thing I Own' is a redeemable feature of the
album before returning to the self pitying theme on 'Who Is Big Jeff?'. 'Sold
Out Shows' has a melancholy feel about it as the death of Rock'n'Roll's
edginess is lamented but when the singer admits that they are touring (albeit
reluctantly) around the country and playing in O2 Academies it smacks of that
friend of mine again - turning up to meet you in Starbucks only to spend half
an hour blabbering on about the homogenisation of the high street. 'Post
Bestival Festival Blues' is another self-absorbed number while 'Charlie' finds
our singer informing us that he's giving up his cocaine habit - how noble.
Beans On Toast looks at the rest of the world for a moment on 'The American'
and does his best Billy Bragg impression singing about Twin Towers conspiracy
theories. Meanwhile, 'Throat Cancer' tells us of a trip to the doctor that
resulted in the singer giving up smoking and just how easy it is to give up
(again, we all know that mate right?). Final track, 'Keep You', is a more
honest and open track but why leave such openness to the end of the album when
my mind is already made up? I can see why folk like Beans On Toast, the songs
are original and the lyrical content is far from predictable but every time he
starts going off on one I just want to skip forward a track - maybe because I
can't do that in real life. Beans On Toast has the approach and style of Frank
Turner and Billy Bragg with a little Cosmo Jarvis thrown in for good measure
but he doesn't have the incisiveness or wit to hold a torch to any of these
artists I'm afraid. Shame, I was really looking forward to this as well.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/beansontoastbeansontoast?fref=ts
Live Dates:
11th December - Garage Venue, Swansea
12th December - The Old Bookshop, Bristol
13th December - The Haunt, Brighton
Supporting Frank Turner on the following dates:
6th February - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
7th February - Capital Arena, Nottingham
8th February - Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
9th February - Arena, Manchester
11th February - Pavilions, Plymouth
12th February - O2 Arena, London
13th February - Guildhall, Portsmouth