Album Review: Plain White T's - 'Plain White T's'
Brimming with relatable lyricism and expertly crafted music, Plain White T’s release their self-titled record.
The group have plied their trade over an extended period and have some seriously admirable work in their arsenal. Their collection of studio albums is quite remarkable, with each record being a great success. The time has finally come, though, for them to put out their self-titled body of work. Of course, this is somewhat irregular, since artists often put their name on their first ‘big’ release.
The titular decision was most certainly not one which was taken lightly, with front-man Tom Higgenson stating that the group “well and truly took its time and truly tapped into the essence that is the Plain White T’s.” With this, listeners looked forward to a release that encased all that the band are about.
From the get-go, nobody would be disappointed.
Things are kicked off with ‘Young Tonight’ which is excellent. An acoustic guitar riff sets the tone, with the bass of Mike Retondo and drums of De’Mar Hamilton combining to introduce Higgenson’s instantly recognisable voice. The track builds up slowly, while reminding fans of the talent and tightness of the outfit. Things let loose a little in the choruses of this one, as Higgenson sings “It’s alright, we’re gonna get old but we’re young tonight.” As a group that have grown with their audience, this is sure to go down a treat at live shows. Fans will relate instantly to the sincerity of the track. Listeners can rejoice in their youthfulness and not fear the future.
There’s no let up, with the record flowing straight into the heavier, grungier number ‘Would You Even’, which was one of a number released ahead of the record. This one’s uber-cool and a beautiful display of the confidence that the band have with their music. The floor is well and truly taken by lead guitarist Tim Lopez, who gifts fans an epic performance. It’s heavy, it builds in all the right places and erupts in a fever of power chords in the choruses. A world away from the softer sounds of the opening number, Plain White T’s remind us that they can achieve a great variety of sounds.
Another of the singles of this self-titled ‘era’ is ‘Fired Up’. As a track, it proved to be hugely popular amongst listeners, and- in its place on the record- it’s even sweeter. It’s largely acoustic and focuses on vocals throughout. Higgenson’s lead is followed by the voice of Lopez. The pair combine to create a sound that will have heads bopping for the duration. The simple lyrics are transcended by beautiful delivery.
The band have commented on the new record, saying that they were reverting to some sounds they’d used in the past, with a freshness. Their authenticity and talent is undeniable. The record plays through excellently.
A hugely notable number is ‘Girl From Pasadena’. Not only does it hold a clever title, with a subtle nod to music that has come before, it is a great track. Higgenson does what he does best on this one. He sings words of the upmost relatability. He talks about never wanting to leave the person in question in the title. Pairing his beautiful melodies is a string section. It’s stunning. The track is beautiful.
The latter end of the album is home to some incredible songs. One of which is ‘Red Flags’. With its hugely familiar title, it was bound to capture the attention of many. The group’s front-man spoke on the process of making this one, saying: “I was dating someone, and it was going so well but in some instances, I was like ‘Wait does this girl really care?’ Sometimes you get so lost in love and all the good things you ignore the bad things, and that’s what ‘Red Flags’ is.” Yet again, the group have achieved a massively relatable track that so many will be infatuated with.
The record closes out in style with two brilliant tracks: ‘Feeling (More Like) Myself’ and ‘Spaghetti Tattoo’. The latter of the two has been present in the world for quite some time now, and it is still as striking as it was all those months ago when it first made itself known.
The exclusively acoustic track tells a gripping love story, which was expertly portrayed in an equally stunning music video. The track is the perfect album-closer. It’s elegant, it’s honest, it’s self-reflectional.
With that, Plain White T’s self-titled album is complete. It’s perfect. The record shows off everything great about the band and more. It’s fresh and it’s full of life. Plain White T’s experience has served them well, as they’ve put together a stunning body of work.
Words by Matthew Caslin
