The Top 25 Albums Of 2021 (So Far): Allday - 'Drinking With My Smoking Friends'

Allday has well and truly broken out of any moulds that he might have been placed in with Drinking With My Smoking Friends. 

The formerly Adelaidian artist - real name Tomas Gaynor - has been making the break from the hip hop is was initially known for over the past few years but has made a clear transition to indie rock and pop with his 2021 offering.  

Described as a tale of "a kind of disillusioned Bonnie and Clyde, hellbent on fleeing a dead-end town with stars in their eyes" rather than Gaynor's usually autobiographical style. 

It's not hard to hear the childhood influences scattered throughout Drinking With My Smoking Friends - think along the lines of Stone Roses, Oasis, The Verve, Echo & The Bunnymen and more - and it's a welcomed sound across tracks like Stolen Cars, Void, After All This Time and more. 

Gaynor's called in some songwriting heavyweights for collabs on the album too, looking to the likes of Gab Strum (aka Japanese Wallpaper), DMA'S Johnny Took and Matt Mason, Hayley Mary, Joji Malani and KLLO's Simon Lam. Particular highlights here include the Took and Mary co-written The Paris End Of Collins St, a look striking look consumerism set to jangly guitars and a distinctly Melbourne backdrop. 

A new era of Allday is here and it's looking bright.