Album Review

ROD THOMAS – You Get Goodbyes

• 4th Mar 2008

According to the venerable NME we should turn our musical attention to such things as Kate Nash, Glasvegas, Klaxons and no doubt many other over-exposed over-rated rubbish, which is readily available in every Tesco nationwide. Then you develop your own mind and decide to dig a little deeper into the musical coal mine and find out what’s beyond the Smash Hits style reporting of the NME, in an attempt to find the hidden diamonds amongst the fast burning here today gone tomorrow acts of today.

Rod Thomas grew up in South Wales but this should not be held against the poor chap, as it’s not his fault he didn’t reside in the far more beautiful Northern reaches of the Land of God. This gentle voiced Folk – Pop artist provides a curious brand of up lifting music that dwells on subjects that would be more given to the darker edge of ones emotions, with his new single being a case in Point. ‘You Get Goodbyes’ deals with the issue of how much you should take from a cheating other half before you decide to empower yourself to a better life and ultimately give them their marching orders. Now this seems less than a joyous subject on the whole as break-ups and heartbreak are usually things associated with negative emotions, but not for Mr Thomas, oh no. His communal therapy session of a song brings together those who feel less than satisfied with what their relationships have become and through this coming together, via the song, you can grow stronger and take the decisions that will release you from you own self made nightmare.

Thomas’ is a one man band carved from musical excellence, brining a level of honesty and authenticity to his music that is not short of remarkable. His new single just as his other songs encapsulate the contrived nature of existence in that they involve difficult emotional satiations put over in the lightest most dance friendly way you will ever encounter. So as you get to your feet ready to move to the folk, pop, disco beat take a second to consider the spectacular achievement of making you feel like that with subject matter so dark, stunning.