Taylor Acorn - 'Poster Child: Deluxe' Album Review
Tracklist:
People Pleaser
Crashing Out
Hangman
Poster Child
Home Videos
Cheap Dopamine
Blood On Your Hands
Goodbye, Good Riddance
Sucker Punch
Vertigo
Theme Park
Masquerade
I need to start with a confession, I missed this album when it first came out, an omission I now regret as I could have had it in my life much sooner.
I hadn’t heard of Taylor until her PR sent me the link to her most recent single release, 'Growing Pains', I listened to that and immediately asked if there was more I could hear. Luckily for me there was, this deluxe version of the album that’s coming out on the 23rd of October.
Incidentally, 'Growing Pains', the new single that prompted me to ask for more is excellent and deserves a listen, or ten, in its own right, its emotional, it’s impactful and it’s just a brilliant song. If there is justice in the world it should be troubling a chart near you soon!
The original album came out in 2025, it’s her sophomore album which means there is another album for me to investigate which I can’t wait to do. The Nashville based singer songwriter has delivered an emotional, raw, powerhouse of an album which indicates a number of influences on her development but which sounds very much her own work.
She has a wonderful way with melody, with emotion and with lyrics but mostly she writes songs that should connect with people .
I think there are elements of Sheryl Crow, Pink, Kirsten Hersh, Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson at work here but overwhelmingly this is the sound of an artist who knows who she is, knows what she wants to convey and is in no mood for bullshit. Unsurprisingly Nashville also has some influence, there’s a Shelby Lynne hint to this as well. It feels like a fusion of indie rock and country, did I know I wanted that fusion? Nope but now I’ve heard it I can’t believe that I’ve not had in my life before.
Taylor’s lyrics are emotional, impactful and honestly raw. It’s one of those albums you can put on both during your break up and at the start of the relationship, hell I’d put it on during the relationship and if your partner doesn’t like it it’s time to get the hell out of dodge!
What I’d be really interested to know if what Taylor is like live, I don’t know if there are any UK tour dates coming up but if there are I’ll be there if I can. This album feels like a mix of mosh pitastic (a word I’ve just made up) and swaying/singing with the one you want to be with. A unique trick to pull off and one that should make for some brilliant shows.
The best thing about the album though is Taylor’s voice. It’s expressive, emotional, honest and engaging . Add that to the lyrics I mentioned already and you can see why I’ve fallen for it quite hard.
I sat down with the intention of dipping in and out and found myself listening to the album in full as a piece of work . It’s not something I often do with the albums I review as I usually build up to it and listen to it over time but this album demands your respect and your attention from the first listen.
There are a number of potential singles and a number of reasons why you should try it. I’m not going to list them, I’m simply going to ask you to try it. If you don’t like it fair enough but I think you’re wrong and I’m clearly right about that…..
What I don’t understand is why I hadn’t heard of Taylor Acron before, it doesn’t make any sense to me, she clearly deserves to be massive. Hopefully she gets picked up by radio stations over here, if she does she’s going to blow up. My personal view is we can’t have enough quality singer songwriters in music, this album proves I may just be right about that.
Review - Iain McClay
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