Tom Tikka and the Missing Hubcaps (Finland) – Rainbows and Dead Flowers (sample/title track from album)

We get some unusual band names in NMC but this one is in a league of its own. Tom Tikka and the Missing Hubcaps was chosen by Tom to honour his late father’s memory, who actually suggested it to him. He once accidentally busted one of his dad’s hubcaps when helping him put on winter tyres. Tom wasn’t paying attention because “as usual, I was writing a song in my head.”

There isn’t a band as such. It’s he and his producer Janne Saksa who play all the instruments.

He’s Finnish-American and has quite a record in the music business gained over two decades songwriting with major labels including numerous international hits, picking up millions of streams, winning numerous awards, and then going solo in 2020 and releasing two albums prior to this one.

I suspect this isn’t a new album, it’s dated 2023 and I’m breaking our own rule by featuring a sample track from a previous year but if you like soft rock with a flavour of Americana, delivered in a homely manner (the English ‘homely’ not the American one!) and with attendant lyrics that you have to put some thought into but won’t make your brain hurt then this track will be right up your street.

And I was taken with the unusual use of what sounds like a mandolin in the instrumental bridge and the change of gauge that goes with it.

Having said that, it doesn’t define the album. Some of the other tracks rock out; some are introspective slow burners; and one sounds like Toni Basil’s ‘Mickey’. All have strong melodies that have ‘accomplished songwriter’ stamped through them.

Find him on:

Website: https://www.tomtikka.com/