West Auckland native Avantdale Bowling Club released his project TREES on 30 September. Tom Scott uses the connotations and topic of weed as a proxy to tackle many deep subject matters that exist within the New Zealand context; mental health, becoming a father, residing within a small town, police anxiety, drug use, etc. A perfect example is the line “When everyone’s depressed / this shit sells itself/ small town bout the size of a roundabout / where the number one killer of a man is himself”
While listening to the album, I knew the project was a 10/10 by the third song ‘Twenty Eight’. The sonic feel and choice of beats lay better groundwork for Tom Scott to show his lyrical and storytelling prowess in a way that is superior to his previous LP. Listening to the album, there is a distinctive change in sound that can be attributed to Scott reuniting with @Peace collaborator Christoph El Truento. In an account released by Tom Scott, the artist detailed the many barriers to the albums release. In that regard, I can say I’m happy to have finally been able to hear the album.
Tom Scott releases his best work yet. It should be in the album-of-the-year conversations.
