Irish Times: John Grant’s latest bleak, inspired electro-pop reveries
U.S. singer-songwriter explores the link between childhood trauma and adult behavior, and America’s political malaise
By Tony Clayton-Lea | The Irish Times
Humour and solemnity run through John Grant’s songs like ripples through water. The American songwriter (and a citizen of Iceland since 2022) isn’t one to hold back on his personal life, having addressed and explored, among other topics, his sexuality, drug and alcohol addictions, severe anxiety and HIV-positive diagnosis. The bleak confessional aspects of Grant’s work appeal to the respectful and cautious voyeurs in our midst, while his levels of eclectic creativity tend to scrape the sky for inspiration. His sixth solo album is no different, blending various musical flavours with two notable themes: the associations between childhood trauma and adult behaviour, and the political malaise of the contemporary United States. …
