London’s own Tom Minor isn’t one to shy away from existential dread, and his latest single, Future Is an F Word, proves it. Released on January 10, 2025, the track is an intoxicating mix of indie rock, punk energy, and sharp-witted lyricism that cuts through the noise with a grin and a grimace. At first listen, it’s a breakup anthem—biting, sarcastic, and effortlessly cool. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something much darker lurking beneath its punchy guitar riffs and relentless rhythm section: a scathing reflection on the world’s inevitable demise. Is this a song about a love gone wrong, or an ironic eulogy for a planet on the brink? The answer, it seems, is both.
Minor, who first made waves with his critically acclaimed debut album Eleven Easy Pieces on Anger & Disappointment, has made a name for himself with his signature blend of sardonic storytelling and raw, unfiltered emotion. Drawing inspiration from indie rock, new wave, punk, and garage rock, he crafts songs that feel simultaneously nostalgic and dangerously fresh. Future Is an F Word takes that formula and dials it up to eleven. Produced by Teaboy Palmer—affectionately dubbed the “Brian Wilson of West Hampstead”—the track is as infectious as it is unsettling, delivering its message with a smirk and a knowing nod to those paying close attention.
The song opens with a swaggering guitar line, immediately setting the tone for what’s to come. Minor’s vocals—equal parts nonchalant and exasperated—cut through the mix as he spits out lines about a relationship crumbling under the weight of expectation. But as the song progresses, the metaphor begins to unravel. “We’re sweating through the sheets / Not from passion, just the heat” might initially sound like post-breakup ennui, but soon, the lyrics take on a much grander, more terrifying scope. It’s a slow realization that the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach isn’t just heartache—it’s existential panic.
The chorus lands like a punch to the gut: “Future is an F word, but we’ll never say it out loud.” It’s a knowing wink to the audience, a bleak joke about the state of the world that’s funny until you remember it’s true. Minor leans into the absurdity, crafting a song that feels like screaming into the void while tapping your foot to the beat. The production is crisp yet gritty, layering driving basslines with sharp, urgent percussion, creating a soundscape that perfectly encapsulates the song’s anxious energy.
Despite its heavy themes, Future Is an F Word is undeniably fun. It’s the kind of track that demands to be blasted at full volume, preferably in a dimly lit dive bar with a drink in hand and a sense of impending doom looming in the background. The combination of dark humor and undeniable hooks makes it an anthem for our times—a song that acknowledges the disaster ahead but insists on dancing anyway.
Tom Minor has always had a knack for translating frustration into art, and Future Is an F Word is no exception. His ability to weave sharp social commentary into undeniably catchy rock songs sets him apart in an industry that often prefers its existentialism wrapped in something more palatable. But Minor doesn’t do palatable—he does punchy, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.
If Future Is an F Word is any indication of what’s to come, Minor’s future—however doomed it may seem—is looking brighter than ever. Let’s enjoy it while we may.
