Swearing Off Fame – M. Crane (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

It’s difficult to put the finger on just what independent or alternative music is these days, both those labels having gone on to be used as genres in their own right and indeed, that makes them part of the establishment rather than the outsiders, right?

However, M Crane feels like he sits in opposition to the expectation and gloss of the mainstream, and Swearing Off Frame does feel like music made by someone happier to be taking the outdoor track.

Taken, the opening track and lead single blends rock drive with almost indie-pop infectiousness, a balance of poise and power sprinkled with the quirk of old-school college rock—an excellent way to grab our attention. More By Now takes this great combination to even greater heights, the space between pop and a hard place being pushed even further apart, creating a fantastic place where the song can explore, and the title track is as odd as it is addictive.

If terms like alternative and independent don’t mean what they originally meant, we need a new term for music like this. Or perhaps we don’t; maybe people should do what comes naturally without considering where they fit into the big picture. Perhaps that is the whole point. I think M. Crane would agree.