Only Real - Jerk At The End Of The Line (Album Review)
Wednesday, 01 April 2015
Written by Huw Baines
There is a gap between what you believe your life to be and what it actually is, and never is that difference more pronounced than in your early 20s. For many, it's a time for drink, drugs, eating awful food, chasing after people who don’t want anything to do with their sweaty bits and dancing to shit music in clubs more likely to have sticky floors than euphoric sweat dripping from the ceiling. And the next day, picturing some sort of mind-altering, foundation-shaking debauchery, there is time to reflect: ‘That was brilliant.’
Only Real’s debut exists on the precipice between those two competing spaces. Niall Galvin floats along on a bed of airy guitar lines and slacker rap verses, forever the coolest kid in his bedroom. But he’s switched on. There’s a studied distance between the sugary melodies and his laconic delivery, one that suggests he’s all too aware of the fact that most adventures are a mixed bag.
Early comparisons with Jamie T should be left at the door. Galvin’s approach might be similarly insular, but his palette is quite different. Jerk and Yesterdays are emblematic, landing somewhere between sunny indie and a west London MC Lars. But, both tunes are infinitely better than that unholy concoction sounds.
Galvin has a way with a hook, utilising sharp guitar refrains and spinning some big choruses that belie the off-the-cuff presentation. The best of them pops up on the slow-burn Can’t Get Happy, a song that hints at a maudlin undercurrent to the freewheeling atmosphere.
Petals takes a similar downbeat approach, but serves to highlight Galvin’s shortcomings as a rapper. With a smirk on his face he can pull it off, but here it doesn’t work. Pass The Pain, similarly, misses its intended target, with verses that go nowhere pulling the rug out from beneath another decent chorus.
Such moments highlight how early it is in Galvin’s career, but they are missteps that don’t undo the good work elsewhere. There is charm here, and notable songwriting chops. Check back later.
Only Real Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat April 25 2015 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Think Tank
Sun April 26 2015 - GLASGOW Broadcast
Tue April 28 2015 - NORWICH Waterfront
Wed April 29 2015 - OXFORD Jericho
Thu April 30 2015 - LONDON 100 Club
Sat May 02 2015 - READING Oakford Social Club
Sun May 03 2015 - MANCHESTER Ruby Lounge
Mon May 04 2015 - LEEDS Wardrobe
Wed May 06 2015 - BRIGHTON Hope
Thu May 07 2015 - BRISTOL Louisiana
Fri May 08 2015 - SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
Sat May 09 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Rainbow
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