Album Review: Dylan John Thomas - 'Dylan John Thomas'
The ultimate blend of familiar and brand new: Dylan John Thomas sets free his debut album into the world.
The 25-year-old Glaswegian has taken the world of music by storm since bursting onto the scene with a seemingly never-ending arsenal of stunning, crowd inspiring tracks.
Having taken on some of the UK’s most notable festivals head on, sold out countless tour dates and released a great deal of remarkably well-received music, Dylan John Thomas finds himself set to unveil his debut LP. Fans of the artist are more than ready for this, and his previously released material has certainly drummed up an abundance of attention.
The self-titled record kicks off with a fan-favourite. The initial guitar riff of ‘Fever’ is unmistakable and sounds equally as brilliant within the confines of a pair of headphones as it does on the big stages. The track is the perfect opener for the record. With its big, catchy choruses, suspenseful and technical guitar playing: ‘Fever’ is the ultimate display of the talents of Dylan John Thomas.
The singer-songwriter wastes no time with the arrangement of the record. Immediately following the opener is ‘Feel The Fire’, another which has been with us for some time. Yet again, it boasts the sheer talent of DJT, with his melodic picking technique being truly poignant in this one. As a track, it’s everything you could ask for. The traditional style of the artist is felt throughout, particularly in the bouncy choruses that have been proven to send crowds completely wild.
The first instance of brand-new material comes in the form of ‘Melancholy’s Cure’, which is positioned around the mid-point of the record. This one really shows DJT’s ability to sustain the level of quality he’s achieved in the run up to the record. Yet again, it shows off just how talented he is with his instrument. Dylan John Thomas’ guitar seems to sing along with him. The rising star has, on various occasions, attributed much of his musical influence to the likes of Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel and many more. In this one, he seems to tap into these influences and muster up his own unique style. It’s outstanding and is sure to be a hit amongst listeners.
DJT’s incredible musical talent isn’t limited to his guitar-playing, though. His self-titled debut displays some of the best lyricism in modern music. ‘Rich Boy’ is a track that truly shows off his effortless way with words. The track seems to tell the tale of what’s really important when it comes to love. “Her father wants that rich boy to take her out, but that rich boy couldn’t give her no fun” sings DJT in his unmistakably uplifting style which has live audiences bouncing. He seems to have truly mastered the art of telling a sincere tale with his words, whilst giving fans a huge track that they can lose themselves to.
While it feels like DJT has skyrocketed to his current level of success, the singer-songwriter has documented that the journey has been a long one, starting with busking. “The only reason I started busking was because I knew I was shite and the only way I was going to get better was for me to be playing in front of people every single day” explained the artist. His efforts have well and truly paid off, and he possesses an album which he deserves a great deal of credit for.
The latter half of the album holds some more totally fresh material. ‘Champs-Élysées’ is one of these new tracks. Fans are sure to relish the new material on the record, and this track is one that feels sure to be lapped up. It feels to be a real, authentic Dylan John Thomas number. It displays verses full of expert lyricism and carefully crafted music, with choruses that are sure to have crowds belting out every word.
The final four tracks of the record are extremely salient. Two of the DJT’s biggest hits ‘When I Get Home’ and ‘Jenna’ find themselves next to one another. The latter of these, of course, is one of those tracks which has crowds in a total frenzy.
Following this formidable duo is brand new number ‘Lovely Day’, which is a slower number that feels so pure. Dylan John Thomas shows off his vocal ability here, utilising his guitar to harmonise with his incredible voice. Just when you think you’ve understood the rhythm of things, though, it lets loose in its chorus. That Johnny Cash feel is back, with a unique twist. The track is the ultimate blend of sincere lyricism and music that lets you lose yourself.
The record closes out with a live rendition of the well-loved, emotional track ‘Wake Up Ma’. This one is a beautiful number that tells a chilling story. DJT’s ability to turn a truly sad tale into a brilliant track is incredible.
The album is stunning and is sure to be one of the best of the year. Dylan John Thomas truly is one to watch, as he takes his new material on the road with him, where he will perform to sell-out crowds all over.
Words by Matthew Caslin
