Album Review: My Own Pet Radio - Goodlum

Sam Cromack's debut album as My Own Pet Radio is an earnest self-portrait from one of Australia's most rewarding songwriters.

The thoughtful Ball Park Music lead singer grapples with ideas of maturity on this solo effort, experimenting with what it means to let go of other people's and his own artistic expectations. True to its esoteric title, Goodlum is a record from the perspective of an individual in a community of outsiders, finding inspiration in everyday occurrences. It's a flowing album that achieves a sense of coherence without repeating itself, including instrumental tracks that demonstrate his versatile musical skills. There's no great mystery surrounding Cromack, but his sincerity is far more compelling than any false enigma.