Single Review: Tom Odell – Concrete
Singer/songwriter Tom Odell has recently released a steamy new single from his album ‘Wrong Crowd’. While the title ‘Concrete’ itself might not inspire lust or longing, the song itself most certainly will, especially if you listen while watching Odell’s accompanying video. Directed by George Belfield, the video features Odell and his band in a loungey, laid-back studio performance centered around Odell and a slim vocal microphone.
Odell’s vocals are sullen as laments his loneliness in the opening verse (“got me in my hotel room / more pillows I could ever use / think they call it luxury / but it doesn’t make a difference to me”). But his tone becomes slinky and seductive in the first repeat of the smouldering chorus (“I’d sleep on a bed that’s made of concrete / just the two of us and no sheet / just your feet / rubbing up against mine”).
The soulful musical arrangement of soft percussion and gospel-flavoured backing vocals adds continuous fuel to the fire through second verse and chorus. Odell bursts into full flame in the bridge, gazing seductively into the camera and venting pent-up frustration in the stubbornly contrary lyric, “I sit on these aeroplanes / but I just wanna walk / play me these symphonies / but I just wanna talk”. Almost more hypnotic than his voice—almost—are his hip-swaying dance moves in the promo.
8.5/10
Odell’s album ‘Wrong Crowd’ was released back in June on Columbia Records. Its lead single ‘Magnetised’ has appeared on both BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 playlists, and I suspect that ‘Concrete’ won’t be far behind. In the meantime, Odell has planned a 40-date world tour in support of the album, including a run of American shows in October, followed by the November UK and Irish shows listed back here. TGTF’s complete previous coverage of Tom Odell can be found here.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/bnZxWpwvFEk[/youtube]
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