Having long gotten rid of the stigma of just being Frank Turner’s mate, Beans on Toast has his own army of fans, and having stuck to his own made rule of a new album every year, released on the same day, the singer refuses to be out of touch on the world’s agendas or becoming musically stale. His new album ‘A Spanner In The Works’ touches on every political and social corner with his typical Essex charm.
This time around though, he’s decided to mix it up more than just him and guitar. Featuring synths, drum machines, pianos and backing singers, Beans on Toast has started to experiment and he’s done it in the best way possible. Without negotiating his regular style, he’s managed to enhance his sound perfectly with these new tweaks.
Opener ‘2016’ reminds us just how much of a shitshow this year has been for many and how we can overcome it. With that fire in his belly we’ve grown to love him for, Beans on Toast is as direct as he has always been. Still one of the wittiest singers on the circuit, ‘Nanny Mac’ is a song for everyone who has an old-fashioned relative, whilst the hilariously titled ‘Fear Mongering Clap Trap’ gets to the problems with the world and global warming spot on.
He’s hardly Bruno Mars when it comes to singing, but his distinctive gruff voice is part of what makes him so endearing and is actually best suited for his style of storytelling. Songs like the acapella ‘Money For War’, attacks the government’s funding decisions and is where he’s at his strongest and most relevant. The way he delivers his beliefs and politics are straight to the point and easy to digest. Whether you agree with what he has to say or not, the fact that Beans on Toast continues to be outspoken about what he’s passionate about is not only enthralling to listen to, but should be applauded when there’s so many singer-songwriters in our scene not doing the same thing and just, lyrically speaking, playing it safe instead.
Ending on ‘Fast Train’, a strange and slightly bitter ode to London, it doesn’t matter what the subject is, Beans on Toast has a talent that most lack; he can capture your attention and imagination with a sense of humour, and you’ll come out the other end of it a little bit more educated.
Louis Kerry