Elliott Fullam: "What's Wrong" (Album Review)

Genres: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Folk, Slowcore

Elliott Fullam’s debut album, What’s Wrong, came as a surprise for many, including myself. As someone I followed fairly loosely on TikTok for their music opinions, the release of a record of his own seemed to come out of nowhere. However, despite how it was unexpected for me, there’s a sense of thoughtfulness and practice throughout the album and the choices made within it. What’s Wrong has the formings of something great, but the struggle to find a voice of its own is prominent.

Fullam’s presence on What’s Wrong does so much to carry the record forward. His soft and breathy vocals add to the tender and haunting atmosphere he creates. I love the texture created by the mix of Fullam’s singing and guitar playing. There really is such an intense atmosphere that’s able to convey the weight of his differing emotions. From the first track of the album, there’s a sense of faint darkness which does a great job of pulling you into the music.

As mentioned earlier, Fullam’s songwriting does a lot in service of the record. There is real feeling that’s expressed here, and I feel as if I can truly see the vision behind the tracks here. Through his songwriting, he’s not just able to convey his emotions but also make them convincing to the listener, which is a huge strength. However, I still think that this record shows that Fullam’s songwriting is underdeveloped. He’s found a sound that feels very natural, but the way that it’s expressed doesn’t feel complete yet. Interesting ideas are introduced but not necessarily followed up on or brought to a conclusion. For example, “Won’t Go My Way” has a wonderful sound, but isn’t expanded upon throughout the song’s runtime, feeling more like a demo than a complete track. When it ends, it just ends, and I’m left wanting more than I got out of it. On a lyrical level, there’s also some weakness, with many lines being too direct to fully deliver the emotional complexity Fullam wants. Even though there is much room for improvement in this area, I do see the budding potential that’s already being tapped into. I would love to see this further development in the future. 

Much of Fullam’s influences are clear to spot, as they are definitely worn on his sleeve throughout the album. You can hear the patterns in his guitar playing, vocal performance, and lyricism. The two that stand out the most to me are Elliott Smith and Duster. The quieter and layered vocals are the qualities that are most reminiscent of Elliott Smith, while a track such as “You’ll See My Ghost” has very Dusteresque instrumentation. Similarities like these can be from song to song across the album. Regardless of whether it's conscious or unconscious, every artist is influenced by others, so what’s even my point? Too much of Fullam’s music originates from these influences instead of using them in a transformative manner. I feel like Fullam has a lot to say, but isn’t using his own voice to say it. 

What’s Wrong might not be Elliott Fullam’s debut masterpiece, but it does offer a lot to be captivated by. This is by no means a perfect album, but the fact that it exists in the form it does genuinely makes me happy. I see more potential in What’s Wrong than its actual execution, but honestly, I’m just glad that Fullam was able to take this step and be able to create in such a way. Despite the issues I have with the record, I consider myself an Elliott Fullam fan, and can’t wait to see the places where his outlet of creativity takes him.

Favorite Tracks: By the Train, Going Alone, Dolonia, I’m So Happy, Half and Half

Least Favorites: What’s Wrong

Enjoyment: Low 6

Critically: High 5

Arbitrary Number: 5.9/10