TV Priest – My Other People

Home > Reviews > TV Priest – My Other People

It is just over a year since TV Priest shared their debut album, Uppers, with the world, since then, and despite the album being released amidst the pandemic, the band have swung from success to the next success, from playing shows across the globe to receiving praise from fans and critics alike, with the album being hailed a ‘dystopian doublespeak’. This week, the band unveil their second offering, in the shape of My Other People – offering a new element of vulnerability, that does not distract from the band’s uniquely gritty, punk sound. 

Opener, ‘One Easy Thing’, was released by the band back in February, the first glimpse of what was to come from My Other People. Enabling the band to unlock a direct, personal approach to their songwriting, ‘One Easy Thing’ stands tall as a reflective piece, proving that frontman Charlie Drinkwater is not afraid to spotlight struggles with anxiety and inner battles within their tracks. 

‘Bury Me In My Shoes’ follows, written as a response to a feeling of unease and dread. The song is driven by Drinkwater’s confidence vocals, that wrap themselves around buzzsaw guitar slashes and a persistent bass rattle that works as proof that TV Priest are not just a one album wonder, but a band that are willing to challenge both themselves, and the listener. 

‘I Have Learnt Nothing’ sees the band expand their sound further, with almost static feeling guitars and brutally honest lyrics that pave the way for the album’s current single, ‘It Was Beautiful’. Tinted with a sense of euphoria, ‘It Was Beautiful’ presents itself as a love song for the past, the present, and the future. A truly powerful number, the track features undeniable levels of emotion that allow TV Priest to position themselves as one of the UK’s most vital post-punk bands. 

Hugely stripped back, ‘The Happiest Place On Earth’ enables the band to further experiment with a new found level of intimacy, that is probed forward by strong vocals and an even stronger guitar line to become a real album highlight that sees My Other People rise as a dynamic, ever-growing force. 

‘It Was A Gift’ opens the gates to celebration, with a slow-starting introduction that gradually gains pace and distortion with a dominant drum-beat working as the song’s spine before it introduces listeners to ‘I Am Safe Here’. Speaking on finding a safe place, or a safe person, in a time of uncertainty, ‘I Am Safe Here’ hammers home the importance of self-care, and recognises that a safe space doesn’t have to be a physical space, but that it could also be within a person aswell. 

My Other People presents TV Priest as a renewed and refined version of themselves, seeing the band on a journey to express a truer, more honest version of the band whilst still remaining true to their post-punk roots. Giving 13 tracks of compassion, integrity and courage, TV Priest assert themselves as band that not only wear their hearts on their sleeves, but also as a musical format for us all to enjoy. 

Rating

Composition
Lasting Appeal
Lyrics
Production

Excellent

Listen on Apple Music

Katie Macbeth

katie macbeth

Katie Macbeth is a freelance music journalist for Indie Is Not A Genre based out of Manchester, presenter of @drunktankthink, and post punk enthusiast.



This page may contain affiliate links to providers from whom Indie Is Not A Genre receives a commission. These links are marked with an asterisk (*).

Scroll to Top