Song review of  “Towerland Lullaby” – John McCullagh, featuring Alabama 3, by Andy Holland.

There has been a steady build-up of publicity surrounding John Lennon McCullagh and so some of you may have heard this track already. He has attracted the attention of that famous mogul Alan McGee and is signed to 359 Music/Cherry Red Records and so everything seems to be in place now to send him into the big-time. Certainly he seems to have all the necessary equipment; youth, good looks, musical talent and he seems to be a pretty gifted songwriter – he’s a pretty unstoppable force really. Towerland Lullaby is an acoustic guitar based song and on first impression it reminded me of Jake Bugg but I think that has more to do with McCullagh’s sharing the same influences. McCullagh also counts Bob Dylan as an inspiration, along with other 60s songwriters and so the Bugg comparison is almost inevitable. There is even a Dylanesque harmonica solo on this track.

Those of you who aren’t seduced by His Bobness’ vocal chops will be happy to know that McCullagh’s vocal style is far more reminiscent of Beatle John Lennon’s; a more melodic variant of what Liam Gallagher has always been trying to achieve. Fans of Oasis will love John Lennon McCullagh, but they should be warned that this is a songwriter who is still young and there is little chance of him ploughing the same musical furrow as the Gallaghers. McCullagh’s lyrics are already more ambitious than anything Noel Gallagher has written and he seems to be a far more reflective writer. This does have the Noel stamp on it though since it reminds me his acoustic stomp-along songs, which is no bad thing. The message of Towerland Lullaby seems to be that we are all distracted by bread and circuses and should notice the more serious issues that are happening around us, but I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about it. It’s a very good song anyway and is bound to cause a stir. McCullagh is joined on this record by Alabama 3, the Hip Hop Rock/Americana outfit and they seem to be responsible for the production style which compliments this song perfectly. Their fondness for all things weird and Americana are all over the video too. Don’t let that mislead you, however, McCullagh is still centre stage and he is the one a young attractive blonde woman is looking at adoringly. He is obviously having a really good time and long may it continue.

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