Music > Album Reviews

Declan McKenna -What Do You Think About The Car

03/08/17

In the two years since winning Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent competition, Declan McKenna has had a lot of growing up to do. And debut record What Do You Think About The Car proves that yeah, the 18-year-old has done a lot of it. Socially conscious and brave, the record shines, showcasing a young lad with a barrage of stories to be told.

2015’s Brazil gave us a songwriter with a knack for bold indie pop bangers, and a culturally intelligent lyricist hailed as perhaps one of the voices of his generation. What Do You Think About The Car showcases a teenager who might just be. Opening track Humongous is bracingly self-aware, introducing the album with Declan’s tangible lyrics and willful guitar bops. Other standout tracks include Sepp Blatter’s dynamite Brazil, psychy tune Mind, and Isombard, a song reminiscent of perhaps what the Doors could have accomplished if they were releasing music in this day and age (and British, and a bit more upbeat).

While the album doesn’t answer the question of its name (I still want to know), it’s an 11-track exploration of the intricacies of Declan McKenna’s generation, his social awareness, and his penchant for being a damn good songwriter.

7/10