Acoustic Gold From The South Coast

When I was unemployed last summer I spent my days writing blogs and grazing the Internet like most other no-nothing, wannabee music hacks, blinded by a slightly glazed arrogance I reviewed, criticised, praised, shunned and assessed all the new music I could.

On a regular basis I was sent singles and albums by the websites I was writing for. Everything from The Perils to Turbofruits, The Bluetones and Marina And The Diamonds. One hot summers day I was in my parents immaculate garden writing away on my laptop, going through cd's as part of my daily routine when i cam across that mug Tommy Riley.

This wee chump was the victorious contestant on that hope-draining, faith-sucking TV program Orange Unsigned Act. To think that out of all of the people who entered this rather dire 'indie' X Factor-type shit-reel was nearly unthinkable. It was like being back at school with those badly covered Nirvana tributes and note-dodgy Americana acoustic-pop dross covers because it just felt so juvenile.

For some reason this tripe made its way onto my ipod and fearfully appeared when i was walking to work with the bastard on shuffle. Today I was listening to Declan Mcdermott for probably the tenth time this month and it really grated on me.

I suppose if I cast my over-bearing cynicism aside for a second or two, Tommy is the type of person who'll delight morons all over the country with his edge-less acoustic droll about girls and the usual adolescent reeking shite. However, its a temporary gratification, init?

I'm not planning on challenging the whole acoustic-folk-like genre or anything like that, it's just i know that i like listening to acoustic songs with a narrative. The guitar-vocal set up allows for this in its entirety, basic and profound in all its ambient simplicity.

And that is why I'm on the push for Declan McDermott. His songs are riddled with wit, perspicacity, perception, dejection - all of which are articulately and accurately penned over the acoustic strummings of a young man who is incredibly underrated, not only as a singer but as a literary representation of Southampton's young talent.