Nothing But Thieves makes us ‘Crazy’ with new single

Nothing But Thieves takes us back to a time when we lost our minds, with ‘Crazy, a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 song of the same name. The song’s narrative depicts a man confronting his ex-lover about their unreasonable madness and inability to own up to their mistakes – a tale similar to the lyrics of Nothing But Thieves’ own two albums. Be prepared for a rare treat of familiarity that somehow feels entirely fresh.

Released for Record Store Day 2018, the single is a grieving slow-build with a bitter twist, transforming the high-beat lyrics of the original track and distorting them into a woeful ballad, reminding us of the haunting melancholy that put the Southend-on-Sea band on our radars back in 2015 with their debut album.

The distorted instrumentals instil an anxiety that explodes into quintessential alternative rock, spiralling with lead-singer Conor Mason’s bewildering, pained vocals; easily cemented as one of rock’s most promising vocalists. ‘Crazy’ is a perfect choice of cover that shows the comfort Nothing But Thieves have with their own sound, proving that they’re much more than their name suggests. Or does that make me crazy?