Hello reader,
Welcome back.
Today, we’re going to dive back into Tommy (Tom) Oeffling. Recently, SWT shared one of the songs, “Psycho,” that is included on Oeffling’s newest album, Neighbors, which is out Friday, October 30th via the fabulous indie 22TWENTY label. Oeffling is a prolific singer-songwriter, as this is the eighth full-length album (first with a label) for the early 20-something for the Chicago-based but Milwaukee inhabitant. Seven of those releases before age 20. His Bandcamp offers wonderful insight, noting: “Tommy Oeffling is part of a new wave of independent artists redefining what DIY music can look and sound like. Drawing from the lineage of artists like David Byrne, Mac DeMarco, and Kevin Parker, Tommy writes, records, produces, and shapes his music largely on his own terms, building a sound that feels raw, immediate, and deeply personal.
Rooted in the spirit of the American Midwest, Tommy’s music swings between chaos and vulnerability without warning. One moment his songs feel loud, explosive, and emotionally unrestrained; the next they collapse into something intimate and fragile. There’s an honesty in his songwriting that cuts through the noise, documenting the unrest, confusion, and emotional weight of growing up in modern America while still managing to feel timeless.
What separates Tommy from many of his DIY peers is the real-world community he’s built around his music. Without the backing of a major label, management company, or industry machine, Tommy and his friends have spent years touring relentlessly across the country, building a grassroots audience city by city. Whether in Orlando, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, or San Francisco, kids show up for Tommy Oeffling because his music feels genuine, loud enough to scream along to, but personal enough to feel like it belongs to them…”
And now for some hype for both your ears and eyes via Oeffling’s YouTube channel:
The video is an adventure, and the song is catchy as hell. “Daily on Eggshells”:
(All credits and rights to Tommy Oeffling)
Another catchy song with an earworm-worthy melody and lyrics. This is “Psycho”. The video has a cooking tutorial!:
(All credits and rights to Tommy Oeffling)
A video that has driving around in wintertime, paired with shots of Oeffling in his studio performing for the song, “Five Dollar Bill”:
(All credits and rights to Tommy Oeffling)
Let’s look at this album more closely. A press release for the album sums up Oeffling’s own goals and intentions on his Neighbors album: “Oeffling was deeply inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses following a college course, particularly the realism with which the author portrayed his characters. While Ulysses takes place over one day in Dublin, Neighbors unfurls over the course of a Saturday in Avenues West. The album stretches from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., allowing listeners to hop into the perspectives.”
Oeffling’s Bandcamp further goes into the inspiration for the Neighbors album, illustrating it in such a regard: “Tommy Oeffling’s neighborhood is bustling with stories if you know where to look. On the western edge of Milwaukee’s downtown area rests Avenues West, a one-mile-wide stretch of the city largely dominated by his fellow Marquette University undergraduates and city workers who want easy access to the center. Tucked away between the late-night diners, fish fries, and a Gilded Age house-turned-museum owned by the hoppy Pabst family are the everyday people Oeffling couldn’t stop thinking about as he prepped his eighth full-length album.
It’s in this neighborhood that Oeffling quietly made a name for himself without his actual neighbors knowing. He self-released seven albums by age 20, beginning in high school. Over the past few years, the singer-songwriter has unwittingly accrued a massive following through word of mouth, DIY touring routes, and online playlists, not unlike Alex G a decade ago…”
What do I think of Neighbors? For many, this will be their favorite album of the year. Many of Oeffling’s long-time fans for sure, and some critics as well. I think everyone should listen to more Tommy (Tom) Oeffling, and they should start with this Neighbors album. It’s a cool time capsule of his life at the moment the songs were recorded, and now they’re preserved forever. And even more so, it’s a very Midwest album in a good way. Oeffling captures vibes and sentiment present today that were also present in decades past. Overall, the album is relatable to those humans outside the area too, with both raw moments, more polished moments, and those in between. Oeffling is fantastic at crafting these types of moments within his songs, and this album offers many more examples of that. Listen for yourself and tell me a few that stand out to you. There’s a good amount of variance within the melodies as well, from more subdued and quiet to louder and more aggressive. At times you may feel like you’re transported back to the 90s and listening to Pavement or others of the ilk, maybe moments of Archers of Loaf for some.
The album opener, “Lucunae,” is the quietest on the album, especially in the first few notes. It slowly builds in volume in its melody, and also with Oeffling’s vocal tone, progressing to a wall-of-sound level of intensity in its final moments. This is followed by one of many catchy as hell jangly pop melodies. They stick with you from the first listen. The lyrics stick with you for good after a few listens, and some of the individual instruments Oeffling employs include, but are not limited to, drums, guitars, organ, piano, mandolin, and tambourine. And the backing vocals on a few songs are from friends. Oeffling’s voice, both inner and outer, displays confidence throughout the album. His voice will stay with you from the beginning to the end of this album.
“Daily on Eggshells” may become your favorite song on this album. If not, “Psycho” is a strong contender, followed by “Five Dollar Bill”, “Make it Later”, the album’s closer “Grab Your Cameras” or even “Roy’s Accordion.” Hell, you may be a fan of slower, longer songs and prefer the longest song on Neighbors, the fittingly titled “How to Age Gracefully,” which is a nine-minute exploration of many things, including life, aging, patience, and several melodic shifts, among other themes. The shift at the midpoint of the song kickstarts a familiar vibe into the tune.
All that being said, Neighbors gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me relative to all 2026 new album releases. Why? I think it is Oeffling’s most complete work to date, and there’s a hell of a lot to like about it while listening. It’s an excellent album with a tremendous amount of sound and lyrical appeal to listeners. Some artists never reach this quality of work. And Oeffling seems to be just getting started, since he’s only in his early 20s. My main complaint is that it was over too quickly. I think that this album makes many people’s playlists, and it should. Add the album to your collection in the formats you choose, but definitely get the vinyl via the links below. Always. Play it while you’re alone and chill, at a Friendsgiving, or at another type of house party that isn’t off the rails. The vibes will hit immaculately.
I’ll always advocate taking the time to listen to every album in its entirety. Listening to Neighbors will take a mere 35 minutes of your time from start to finish and just 70 minutes if you listen twice back-to-back. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs free from the influence or bias of others. After several listens, I found the songs emboldened below to be my favorites on this album.
The tracklist for Neighbors (song length)
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Lacunae (3:04)
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Daily on Eggshells (2:44)
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Psycho (3:05)
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How to Age Gracefully (9:23)
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Five Dollar Bill (3:07)
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Make it Later (6:53)
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Roy’s Accordion (3:47)
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Grab Your Cameras (2:26)
Total runtime: 34:29
Find out more about Tommy’s music on his website, ffm.bio page, Bandcamp, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. And check out his Instagram page as well.
Thank you for reading this and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Like reading reviews of new albums and EPs? Here’s some more that were featured on SWT.
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
