REVIEW: Tom Woodward – ‘Come Come Karma!!!’

There’s something thrilling about an artist who sounds completely unbothered by expectations, and Tom Woodward’s latest full-length release bursts with exactly that energy. ‘Come Come Karma!!!’ arrives like a weathered notebook flung open on a café table, with pages filled with half-mystical observations, crooked smiles, and melodies that feel both timeless and slightly unhinged in the best possible way.

Across its twelve tracks, Woodward leans fully into his strength as a storyteller, letting scenes and characters drift in and out like passing trains. The record feels steeped in old-world textures while still carrying the restless pulse of modern uncertainty. Acoustic strums rub shoulders with woozy psych flourishes, and dusty Americana undertones thread their way through songs that sound as if they’ve been lived in for years before reaching our ears.

What’s immediately striking is his confidence in restraint. Rather than chasing polish, he allows songs to breathe, wobble, and occasionally unravel. You can hear it especially in the album’s sharper social observations, where sly humour and skepticism cut through the warmth. One of the standout moments, the previously released ‘Phoney Messiah’, captures this balance perfectly, pairing biting commentary with a melody that sneaks into your head and refuses to leave.

Musically, ‘Come Come Karma!!!’ feels like a late-night conversation between folk tradition and psychedelic curiosity. There are echoes of wandering troubadours and backroom jam sessions, but also an expansive, road-worn sensibility that suggests endless highways and long internal monologues. Guitars shimmer and scrape, rhythms roll forward with unforced ease, and Woodward’s voice acts as the glue holding it all together.

Having already built a reputation through major festival appearances and sharing stages with some formidable names, Tom Woodward sounds completely at home here. ‘Come Come Karma!!!’ pulls you in with character, wit, and a deep love for songcraft.

This is an album that rewards repeat listens, revealing new details and emotional shades each time. In an era obsessed with immediacy, Tom Woodward offers a record that lingers, meanders, and ultimately feels like a trusted companion for long drives, late nights, and moments of reflection.