8/10

Despite still only being 18-years-old, Declan McKenna has already been with us for quite some time. After landing a set at Glastonbury Festival back in 2015, for winning their Emerging Talent Competition, the frontman wasted no time in getting his music out there, giving us a steady stream of new material for the last two years. Now everything he has been working on has finally come to fruition as he unveils his long-awaited debut album 'What Do You Think About The Car?', a record that shows wisdom far beyond his years.

Bringing together much of his work to date, this new album likes to think of itself as an introduction to Declan's songwriting, delivering one radio-friendly single after another. Yet what McKenna has managed to create in his first full-length is this well-conceived structure throughout each of his songs. Rather than look to challenge the listener through complex ideas, the record is simple in its delivery, creating a far more engaging release that manages to keep your interest from start to finish.

It may have been a long time coming for Declan McKenna, but now hearing his work all in one place, it was most certainly worth the wait. It feels very rare to find a new artist with as much appreciation and understanding for his art as he does, and it leads us to the feeling that this is only the start of what we can expect in the near future.