Thom Stone Hearts & Bones (Self Released)
4/5
By: Rachel Bolland
On paper, Thom Stone seems to have everything a singer/songwriter needs to get started. Featured on In the City’s Best of Unsigned 2006 (along with Gallows and Friendly Fires) and with a sublime duet with Laura Marling under his belt it seems strange that he hasn’t made as much of an impact as some of his contemporaries. Double EP Hearts and Bones only serves to further that mystery.
There are tracks on this record that have moments of real beauty. Stone’s unique voice brings true emotion to some of the lyrics, straining at the refrain of opener ‘You Can Do What You Like’ with a resigned quality that makes an instant connection with the listener. At many points he is armed only with a guitar for backing, the lo-fi production allowing the songs and his voice to stand alone, make their own case for attention instead of being surrounded with background ambience.
When he does stray into bigger songs it’s sometimes messy; he has a habit of trying to cram a lot of words into not enough music, but everything still has a certain charm to it. ‘Baby Come Back’ for example, one of the more upbeat moments on the EP, possesses a wonderful alt-country feel.
The second half of Hearts and Bones takes on a decidedly more morose feel. ‘Clementine’ is a sad tale detailing drinking fathers and a struggle to make ends meet. Along with ‘I Will Always Leave You’ it makes for a fairly depressing second half (sample lyric “One day I will die/And everyone will say you’re better off this way”). However, Stone manages to contrast the melancholic subject matter with almost cheerful melodies, with a lovely blend of harmonicas and guitars.
While the EP has an almost charming home-made feel to it (there are many instances of Stone and his mates chatting and laughing) it feels that if there was a bit more polish on the record it could lift this very talented singer from his relative obscurity. He has all the talent and drive to be a success – and Hearts & Bones showcases the early days of his song-writing skills beautifully.
Artists in this article: Thom Stone
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