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Description
**Dancing with Bad Grammar** arrives as a debut statement from L.A. Salami's rare breed of songcraft: not quite folk, not quite indy, and certainly not boring. Released August 26, 2016, the album finds UK troubadour Lookman Adekunle Salami-a Kent and South London native-positioning himself between the storytelling traditions of Joni Mitchell and the raw poetics of Jamie T. What emerges is a collection of 15 tracks stuffed with defiance, exuberance, and a lyrical precision that would make the Sunday Times declare it "scuffed, sharply drawn street-poet blues." The record's DIY ethos and acoustic sensibilities land somewhere in the alternative folk-rock canon, yet it carves its own space with boldly titled songs that suggest both a proper bee in the bonnets and a poet who has seen the city's underside.
Track titles alone-"*& Bird*," "*Anything's Greener Than Burnt Grass*," "*Pete The Monkey; The Baptism Of Petter The Young*"-betray an artist unafraid of embracing the absurd and the personal in equal measure. The NME's "ragged and raging poetry" assessment feels warranted; Salami's voice carries a hypnotic quality that bridges the gap between the intimacy of a campfire and the cathartic release of a punk riot. Critics have noted his candid wit and observant lyrics, qualities that suggest this album might indeed be "one for the future," as the Bandcamp pitch suggests, particularly given his subsequent work like *Ottoline* (2022) demonstrates his growing versatility across pop, jazz, and hip-hop sonics.
Notable production credits include DJ Shore and Nic McPhee, who helped shape the album's sonic landscape, while the Sunday Best Recordings label imprint marks its home in the British indie circuit. The record's legacy has only grown, finding new listeners alongside acts like Saunt and Fontaines D.C.-fellow artists who navigate the space between raw authenticity and polished craft. A truly compelling addition to any collection that values poetry in music and the kind of lyrical bravery that refuses to be categorized.
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**Sources:**
[Bandcamp](https://lasalami.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-with-bad-grammar) - critical reviews and track listing
[AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/la-salami-mn0003514363) - artist profile and discography
[The Line of Best Fit](https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/la-salami-ottoline-eloquence-versatility) - later work and stylistic evolution
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