The first week of December means a lot of different things to people, Christmas trees going up, advent calendars being ripped open, office parties because it’s cheaper to book a venue early but for fans of British folk music, it also means a new album by Jay McAllister aka Beans On Toast, who this month is releasing his fifteenth LP to coincide with his birthday. Many happy returns!
It’s something of a change for Beans this time around as the Essex Troubadour is joined in the studio by the Beans On Toast Band, and it’s a welcome change that adds a new dimension to his usual output and, at times, (mercifully) takes the onus off the lyrics.
Gods, Children and Robots is a bold statement from the outset, calling out the horrific scenes in Gaza, and McAllister pulls no punches; “This is not a war, it’s a genocide, let it be known that we all stood by”. Typically, I cringe at overtly political statements by musicians, but in this case, he’s so blunt and unabashed I can’t help but admire it.
The songs are more accessible when politics are left to one side and he focuses on the kitchen sink realism of working-class life, like on Pelican Crossing, where, at the very least, the message is authentic.
Musically, at its peak, it’s agreeable; the additional band structure offers a lot more variety than a typical BOT record. Comfortable In the Counter Culture, for example, has a toe-tapping rockabilly feel to it that I wasn’t expecting but was a pleasant surprise.
But time and again, I can’t help but wince at the word play. If you asked Chat GPT to produce a right-on folk song, I’m pretty sure it would be identical to what we get here. This is most glaring in The Fall Of The Establishment. Look, I get that these things have to be said, and I do actually agree with the sentiment, but there has to be some nuance; socio-political commentary can’t just be declaring that the sky is blue.
And truthfully, at times, it’s so twee I can’t take it. The Glastonbury Oak is perhaps the worst offender, an ode to a festival that is now frankly a load of wank and has been for nearly 20 years, until Taylor Swift For President genuinely leaves me with my head in my hands.
But look, the man has made over fifteen LPs, plays tons of packed gigs a year, and has a devoted fanbase so there are clearly people out there who dig what he’s doing, so power to him and them and I think the reason for this is that it’s never disingenuous, he clearly believes in everything he’s singing and I salute him for that.
This stands out most on Our Cat, a charming little tale reminiscent of Cat Stevens’ I Love My Dog, about altering his opinion on having pets and falling in love with an animal that has an irresistible upbeat message about prioritising your kids’ happiness.
As you can probably tell, I’m torn as we reach the point where I need to offer a verdict, so here goes: it’s not for me, but there are a handful of the 13 songs that are worth your time. Having said that, I can confidently state that Jay McAllister is a sincere, genuine chap doing what he loves, and there’s absolutely no harm in that; hell, some folks probably have beans on toast for dinner every night and live a very happy life, and the musical equivalent of that is certainly no harm either.
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