I had high hopes for Paolo Nutini’s new album. I really liked the simple, laid back tracks that were on his previous album and they really were perfect for relaxing in the garden or more preferably, on a beach somewhere. However, the heavy trumpet opening of the first song on the album, “10/10″ alerted you to the fact Nutini’s sound had changed.
My first impressions of the album were mixed. The vocals weren’t as good or clear as they were on his previous effort “These Streets” although the songs sounded fuller. The brass instruments made a big impression and the song sounded like something you’d expect to hear in the Caribbean, which was different. “Coming Up Easy” was an improvement but the vocals again weren’t as good as I remembered them being and “Growing Up Beside You” failed to leave much of an impression. The next track was the album’s first single, “Candy.” It’s clear to see why it was the single being probably the most promising song on the album.
The album does have some good points over its predecessor. The songs are diverse whereas on “These Streets” Nutini used the same formula on near enough every song. Nutini explores a wide range of genres across the album and expands on the first album musically. If you’ve never heard of Paolo before then you may enjoy this album. If you’re over 40 you probably stand a bigger chance.
Other tracks on the album include the 1950’s Jazz influenced “Pencil Full Of Lead” which was ok, but I wasn’t looking for jazz when I got this album. “High Hopes” is a decent quicker tempo songs with some bongoing towards the end, a sign that Nutini is definitely embracing other styles of music. The rest of the album goes on but fails to leave much of an impression, with a heavy folk rock influence to the last 4 tracks.
Maybe it’s because I’m comparing it to its predecessor but “Sunny Side Up” fails to live up to Nutini’s performance on “These Streets.” The songs just sound complicated in comparison, although the addition of some diversity helps the album. It just doesn’t sound as modern though which is my main problem with it. Looks like I’ll be listening to “These Streets” again this summer. I recommend you do as well.
Paolo Nutini – Candy Listen on zShare
Paolo Nutini – 10/10 Listen on zShare
Paolo Nutini – Sunny Side Up Order on Amazon.co.uk
Paolo Nutini – These Streets Order on Amazon.co.uk
