One Cure For Man – Too Many Songs (2021)
From his sophomore single ‘The Haunted’ (read our review here) to his last track ‘Everything (Promise Me)’ (read our review here), we have followed One Cure For Man’s musical progress with interest. The stage name of singer-songwriter and music teacher James Parkinson, One Cure For Man has a sound that is truly genre-defying. Along with our critical acclaim, the UK-based artist has been praised by RGM, Sinusoidal Music, When The Horn Blows, Louder Than War and various other critics. The most recent addition to his fascinating repertoire is the single ‘Too Many Songs’.
Not one to turn away from controversial or provocative themes, Parkinson’s music has always been conceptual. Introspective and reflective, his tunes delve into deeper emotions associated with the pandemic, the influence of social media, and now the issue of instant gratification in modern-day society. In ‘Too Many Songs’, Parkinson takes on the decline of old-school complexity in music pointing out the need for catchy, simple songs that meet our happy factor immediately.
The thing is, this track goes far more than superficial music delving deeper into the intricacy of contemporary songs. Parkinson shares that “…’Too Many Songs’ is not as much about the struggle to write a song with meaning, depth or emotion but the struggle to get the world to listen to it. Songs are becoming more one-dimensional and simple…people seem to want easy, catchy songs and struggle to understand complex lyrics, subject matters or chord sequences.” Oddly enough, ‘Too Many Songs’ is rather catchy and easy to listen to, but does this mean it meets the demands for “easy music”?
Recorded at Parkinson’s home studio, ‘Too Many Songs’ has a simplistic opening with crescendoes into infectious guitar riffs and steady drumming (courtesy of Ben Parkinson); however, does this mean it is one-dimensional? Not at all. The melodic arrangement has a flowing vibe in a kaleidoscopic soundscape along with some seriously insightful lyricism. Yet, while the theme may be considered melancholic, the melancholy is infused with a sense of optimism for the future of music.
Along with his single, One Cure For Man has released an official music video for ‘Too Many Songs’. Adding a visual element to the conceptual track, this video follows Parkinson as he plays different instruments in different rooms. I might be wrong, but the changing setting within a single home seems to me to be a representation of music’s diversity, however, it remains within a single box without people from the outside world listening to him. Then again, this is just my interpretation. Big bonus: the video does not include any strobe-like lighting effects and is safe to view by people with photosensitive epilepsy.
For more from One Cure For Man check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
