Album Review: Tom Grennan – Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn’t Want to Be
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Tom Grennan’s Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn’t Want to Be is the sound of someone stepping into their biggest, boldest era yet. It’s ambitious, and radio-ready, but still rooted in the raw honesty that’s always been his calling card. From the get go, the record charges forward with high energy tracks. Full Attention sets the tone with its rhythm, pounding piano chords and magnetic drive. Cool With That follows which, upon further research, is a euphoric ode to the night he met his wife. It’s a song that radiates with warmth and the magic that is love. Shadowboxing captures the album’s central theme, fighting inner battles and clawing toward peace of mind. This track comes with a punchy rhythm that reflects the emotions behind it.
Of course, the record isn’t just bangers and bravado. Boys Don’t Cry, inspired by a conversation with childhood friends about how men struggle to open up, is sincere and feels both deeply personal and universally important. Then you have the nostalgic tenderness of Somewhere Only We Go, slowing things down to reflect on shifting and changing friendships. Shadows on the Ceiling is romantic and mature, in which, Grennan talks about real love and lasting connection, long after the honeymoon glow. Celebrate and Higher feel a little bit like Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, very familiar in tone, beat and rhythm. I found this a little disappointing given the familiarity and lack of originality. The funk theme trickles down into the next few tracks as well – Certified, Diamond and Dirty Dishes. These tracks felt quite lacklustre and didn’t really bring anything new to the table other than fleshing the record out a little more.
The album starts to find its feet again with Cinnamon, a sweet, cheeky beat, that paints a cinematic scene of locking eyes across a crowded room, while Drama Queen finds Grennan reflectively poking fun at his own theatrics, asking himself “why am I like this?” What comes next is the most emotionally fuelled number on the album, I Won’t Miss a Thing. Grennan wrote this track while watching his granddad fight in hospital. It’s a tender addition and talks about cherishing every moment and believing those we love stay with us, even when we lose them. Closing the record is Lonely Dancer which flips the tone completely from I Won’t Miss a Thing. It’s about self acceptance and confidence. Someone so at ease within themselves that they can dance alone and move through the world feeling completely content.
As a full experience, the Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn’t Want to Be is rightly maximalist and unashamedly so. It feels a little messy, a little overwhelming, and a little familiar. What truly shines through though is Grennan’s heart, whether he’s celebrating love, unpacking grief, or laughing at his own flaws, there’s always truth at the core.
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