Album Review: Tom Walker - 'I Am'
Tom Walker’s vulnerability is present on I Am, continuing the singer’s introspectiveness that has earned him comparisons with The Script and a hint of Imagine Dragons in its chorus – there’s no surprise to see he’s supporting The Script later this year. Five years after Leave a Light On, his breakout, he gets straight to the point of his message with a gruff, intense chorus of Holy Ghost, distinctively Hozier-esque, before single Burn showcases the question posed by spiralling out of control and questioning despair and uncertainty in Head Underwater – it’s all about a man losing control and the darkness on the other side. It lacks the soulness or uniqueness to make it a classic with these choruses being appropriately pop-y and collective in their nature, but there’s a distinctive inward gaze that shows real promise. 3 tracks in is enough to tell you whether or not you’re going to like I Am, which wears Walker’s heart on his sleeve.
The music structure is depressing, as admitted by the man himself – it tackles broader themes than his debut and uncertainty is everywhere. Freaking Out again showcases Walker’s vulnerability and anxieties at every turn in a post-COVID world – he wishes he was less uptight, but can’t help but drown in the deep end – constantly drowning amongst the inner demons is an emotional turn of phrase that feels incredibly soulful and personal. Kissed by God shows the importance of having someone close by him, and how he has an anchor through the constant change in his life and a relationship that he wants to last forever; a family that grows old as one. It’s cliché – “no matter where you are, you’re my home”, but Walker’s earnestness carries it through and makes it listenable; the Hozier-esque chorus again present here. If you’re a fan of any of the bands that have been mentioned so far then you’ll find some charm in I Am – which sets out to tell you everything about who Walker is as a person and it succeeds in doing so.
I really like Stigma, which is probably the best track on the album. The commentary about macho ideals and men’s mental health is a welcome change of pace that sums up the vulnerability present and the hereditary teachings of men to repress their mental health issues; fathers and grandfathers teaching their young to be big men. It’s a cry and a need to talk about mental health more than ever, and the ones who talk about it are the ones who make it home. This is vital messaging that no matter how many times you hear it it might be the first time for someone and it might get them to open up about it; so it’s great that Walker is using his platform to highlight men’s mental health. Lifeline is just as emotional; a song about a lost friend, and it resonates deeply with anyone who will have lost someone: all of these forces collide as Walker bears his heart and his soul with every song. His vocals are captivating and able of amplifying his voice to the loudest crowd, connecting with anyone who will listen instantly.
I Am is a snapshot into what’s been going on in his life and a window into his soul. This is a reflection of him as a person and a story of Walker trying to figure out who he is, SOS Is a cry for therapy and the need to improve – and the vulnerability and emotional tribute of Lifeline really makes this such an important album. It may not tackle any new ground – albums about people finding themselves are a dime a dozen, but I Am presents itself as a searing success.
Words by Miles Milton-Jefferies
