Similar Artists: Neon Trees, MONA, Jimmy Eat World, The Killers, The Ruse
Recommended Songs: “Let Me Show You How It’s Done”, “Human”, “Drive Away”, “Mad”
Atomic Tom is a four-piece alternative rock band originally from Brooklyn, New York. They first began releasing music in 2005 and have since written many singles, two EPs, and now, three albums.
Their latest album, The Way It Never Was, was written between 2021 and 2023 and is independently produced and released by the band. The Way It Never Was tackles many topics, such as growing up under oppressive religious authoritarianism, trauma from those belief systems built on fear, and the pride of being able to get out of these situations. With these self-reflective themes throughout the album, The Way It Never Was is considered Atomic Tom’s most personal work yet.
Opening with “Let Me Show You How It’s Done”, Atomic Tom celebrates their fight for freedom. Through leading guitar and punchy percussion, songs such as “Let Me Show You How It’s Done” and “The Nightmare vs. The Game” detail the cycles of confusion and uncertainty they were once trapped in and their desire to break out of them.
From there, The Way It Never Was takes you on their journey to achieving independence. Songs such as “Never Go Back” and “Heroes” truly encourage this change in their lives. Through emotional vocals and steady guitar in “Never Go Back” and the bright synth and groovy percussion in “Heroes”, Atomic Tom shares their need to move forward on their journey and leave the past behind.
While The Way It Never Was expresses encouraging sentiments about moving forward, some songs feature reflection on lived experiences. Songs such as “Wake Up The Night” let Atomic Tom share about the past treatment they endured from certain people or organizations. Through gentle piano and strong vocals, Atomic Tom navigates the push and pull of a narcissistic relationship where there was never truly respect for anyone involved. The Way It Never Was highlights the need for respect in the midst of uncertainty in songs such as “Human” and “Drive Away”.
There are also moments where this journey of independence in The Way It Never Was can be overwhelming. Songs such as “Wake Me When I’m Gone”, “Mad”, and “We Wear the Crown” tackle these moments of anxiety and uncertainty. Through steady acoustic guitar and soft vocals, “Wake Me When I’m Gone” shares feelings of discouragement facing the daunting unknown that lies ahead on their journey.
“Mad”, featuring leading synth and strong vocals, describes the feeling of losing yourself after big moments of change and the fight to find yourself again. With punchy percussion and powerful guitar, “We Wear the Crown” reflects on the thought of giving up when things get tough, yet knowing the only way to make things better is to keep moving forward. These songs combine the previous themes highlighted in The Way It Never Was of fighting for their freedom and self-reflection. In moments where things seem impossible, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is not visible all the time.
The Way It Never Was is a perfect example of the human experience of change. Not everything about change is necessarily positive in the moment. Sometimes, change can bring a lot of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future. However, The Way It Never Was highlights the need for resilience in these hard moments. Every day is a new day on the journey. There will be good days and bad. The most important thing is to never give up hope and push to meet your end goal, just like Atomic Tom did on their journey of growth detailed in The Way It Never Was.
You can listen to The Way It Never Was below.
