A lot can happen between the ages of 22 and 27, and Paolo Nutini's first release since
Sunny Side Up
(2009) suggests that the past five years have been spent immersed in classic soul, funk and Motown, if the likes of the slinky
One Day
(a tune straight out of Sam Cooke's canon) are anything to go by.
Let Me Down Easy
and
Numpty
are more understated numbers, while
Iron Sky
taps into a rockier vibe with its earnestly rabble-rousing lyrics. Yet as groovy as this brass-laden album occasionally is, Nutini misses an opportunity to use his beautifully stirring vocals in a more innovative way; the quirky tempo and falsetto vocals of
Diana
come close, but labelmate Janelle Monae's rap verse on
Fashion
sounds terribly misplaced. Overall, it sounds like Nutini is still fine-tuning his style.
paolonutini.com
Download: One Day, Diana