Idiot Glee - All Packed Up

Why is it that musicians seem to get so wrapped up in trying desperately to do something that’s, like, totally radical and, like, never been done before? OK, so you’ve got to have the odd pioneer to push things forward, but come on, it all gets a teeny bit tiresome after a while, doesn’t it?

Sometimes you need to look backwards in order to move forwards - something that Kentucky’s Idiot Glee, known to his mum as James Friley, proves with his latest single ‘All Packed Up’. With melodies that sound like they could be from a lost Beach Boys record and charmingly minimalist and lo-fi production, it doesn’t exactly break any new ground, but, by not trying to do so, it’s one of the most refreshing releases of the past few months.

And before you say anything, this isn’t just another lame retro pastiche either. This is much more than that. With ‘All Packed Up’ (and B-side ‘Don’t Drink The Water’, which is probably even better than the A-side) Idiot Glee is putting his own unique twist on the past and, in doing so, possibly reshaping the future.