Album Review: "Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking?" by James Bar Bowen
Alright, let’s get into this wild ride of an album. Released back in 2012, Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? is a genre-bending beast that somehow smashes folk, rock, punk, and even some world vibes together like a musical smoothie gone rogue. It’s raw, unfiltered, and self-released under James Bar Bowen’s own label (props to him for going indie). The UK artist clearly didn’t come here to play it safe—he came to make noise.
First off, the tracklist reads like a fever dream. You’ve got songs with titles like “Fuck-Me Shoes” (yes, twice), “This Is England Now” (also twice), and “Bella Ciao,” which feels like someone threw Italian protest music into the blender just for kicks. But don’t let the repetition throw you—it works weirdly well. There’s something about hearing these tracks echo each other that makes the whole thing feel cohesive, like a patchwork quilt stitched together by a slightly chaotic grandma.
Now, onto the standouts. Let me tell ya, “Fuck-Me Shoes” sticks in your head like gum on a hot sidewalk. It’s gritty, punchy, and has this sneering energy that screams punk without being pretentious about it. The lyrics are sharp enough to cut glass, but there’s also this underlying vulnerability that sneaks up on you. Like, yeah, he’s pissed—but he’s also kinda heartbroken. And honestly? That combo hits different.
Then there’s “Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?”—the title track that feels like a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the world. The melody builds slowly, almost hypnotic at first, before exploding into this chaotic swirl of guitars and drums. By the time it ends, you’re left breathless, like you just ran a marathon through someone else’s brain. Bowen nails this balance between chaos and control, making it one of those tracks you’ll want to blast while driving too fast down empty roads.
Oh, and can we talk about “Rage”? Because damn. This song doesn’t mess around. It’s short, loud, and leaves zero room for chill vibes. If anger had a soundtrack, this would be it. Yet somehow, it doesn’t feel destructive—it feels cathartic. Like screaming into a pillow after a really bad day. Weirdly satisfying.
The rest of the album keeps things interesting, tossing in bits of folk storytelling (“Wartime Sweetheart”) and even some unexpected global influences (“Bella Ciao”). Sure, not every track lands perfectly, but the overall vibe is so authentic that it doesn’t matter. This isn’t polished studio magic; it’s more like eavesdropping on someone’s diary set to music.
So yeah, Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? might not change your life, but it’ll definitely kickstart your playlist rotation. It’s messy, heartfelt, and full of passion—the kind of album that reminds you why people still bother making music in the first place.
And hey, fun fact: listening to this record makes me wonder if James Bar Bowen moonlights as a philosopher. Or maybe he just really likes yelling about shoes. Either way, respect.
