SINGLE REVIEW: Tom Minor – Expanding Universe
‘Expanding Universe’ is one of those tracks that throws you headfirst into something theatrical, pointed, and unmistakably Tom Minor. It opens on a dramatic note, setting the stage with a sense of weight and unease before unfolding into twangy guitars and punchy drums. There's a raw, rugged quality to the sound, but it’s also meticulously thought through—controlled chaos at its most intriguing.
The vocal delivery leans heavily into a semi-spoken style, part conversational, part confrontational. It feels like a direct address—an artist laying things bare with no filter, and plenty to say. But what really elevates the track is the contrast. Against that raw delivery comes a more stylised, almost new romantic-style vocal, weaving in and out with curious precision. The interplay between the two styles adds an unexpected tension, drawing you into the back-and-forth and keeping you second-guessing the next move.
The chorus changes things up again, shifting into a tighter, catchier structure with rhythmic vocal lines that add momentum without sacrificing depth. It’s clever without being smug, catchy without feeling over-polished. There's a punk sensibility running through the whole track—not in the sense of genre, but in its refusal to play it safe. It challenges form and expectations, refusing to follow a straight line.
Lyrically, the song takes aim at the present by reflecting on the past. There’s frustration here, aimed squarely at corporate greed and global complacency, but it’s handled with creative flair rather than blunt force. It's political, but also poetic, and the message lands because it feels rooted in lived observation rather than abstract outrage.
Tom Minor has always marched to his own beat, and ‘Expanding Universe’ is a perfect example of that creative independence. It’s arty, bold, messy in the best way, and completely unconcerned with sounding like anyone else. Originality pulses through every moment, and even when the song spirals or swells, it always lands with intention. This isn’t just another protest song or indie experiment—it’s Tom Minor doing what he does best: making the complicated sound captivating.
