Here’s a big, sparkling slab of indie pop from Jonny Melodic! The guitars jangle, the rhythm section swings and hats are tipped towards the 80s; but the cool indie 80s. Just when I think I’ve got a handle on the song, a heartfelt massed choir suddenly blasts off to sing the refrain, and kicks the song onto another level.
The song’s lyric takes the subject of self-expression through a kaleidoscopic point of view, looking at it from a number of shifting angles, but all of them pertinent to the current debate about “Freedom of Expression” that seems to be everywhere you look in 2025. The first verse seems to be about being mocked or “called names” as kids would refer to it. The second verse seems to be about openly speaking your mind: “If you’ve something to say / You should never try to hide it” Jonny implores us, with his fervent, hiccupping delivery. But the final verse tells us “We all make mistakes / and I know I’m not an exception / Instead of pointing the blame / Is it time to just say sorry?”, highlighting the mess that Freedom of Expression can make, and the need sometimes for a mature head to exercise that freedom in the service of putting right the damage that words can cause.
So bullying, freedom of expression and being able to handle it with self-awareness and maturity all in under 3 and a half minutes! Somewhere in the middle of all this, a noble sounding trumpet solo unexpectedly raises its stately head, then strings underline the chords and bring some gravitas to the fizzy guitar energy. Suddenly, all these instruments which have been slowly building up in layers drop away and we’re left with that massed choir with only stomping feet and clapping hands as a backing beat. Freedom of Expression: does it facilitate name calling, or support the expression of our inner selves, or build bridges and seek forgiveness? Jonny doesn’t offer any conclusions leaving us to draw our own. It’s hard to think of a more tuneful way to chew over these big ideas than this song. If you like Edwyn Collins, The Proclaimers, the Housemartins, and indeed Kidderminster’s own Humdrum Express, then “Shout It Out” will wake you up and lift your spirits.
By: Eastside Jimmy