‘Word to the Wise’ is the powerful spoken-punk rock anthem we didn’t realise we were waiting for. Recorded at Farm Factory Studios by Lincoln-born punk outfit Televised Mind, the track unfolds like a hypnotic mantra. From the very first beat, it commands attention with an intensity that feels both familiar and refreshing.
Built on a thumping, streamlined soundscape, the song perfectly captures that universal sensation of being burnt out and overwhelmed while everyone around you seems determined to talk over the noise in your head. Its simplicity is its sharpest tool, every drum hit and guitar line reinforces the frustration, exhaustion, and pent-up energy at the heart of the track. With echoes of early 2000s alt-rock cutting through the mix, Televised Mind manage to deliver something that nods to its influences while sounding distinctly their own. ‘Word to the Wise’ will undoubtedly stun in front of a live audience, dictating a mosh pit through its demanding soundscape.
Written during the summer lockdown of 2021, the track reflects the band’s willingness to push at the edges of punk and rock, blending their inspirations into something raw, funky, and charged with personality. It showcases an evolution in their song writing; a sound that’s bold, slightly cocky, and confidently assured. Hints of Queens of the Stone Age, Bloc Party, and IDLES weave through the track, but never overshadow the band’s own identity.
It’s those unvarnished vocals and deceptively simple lyrics that linger long after the music stops. ‘Word to the Wise’ is a true head-bopping earworm that sticks with you, whether you want it to or not.
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