Nutini is nutrition for the ears. (Sunny Side Up - Paolo Nutini)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Sunny Side Up - Paolo Nutini
Date:	07/07/09 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliantly different.

Disadvantages: One song, maybe.

Paolo Nutini

Sunny Side Up (2009)

Well, I have to say, the British music scene is very much alive and kicking, from jazz, to pop, to punk and everything in between, and this is where the young Mr Nutini comes in....everything in between....does he have a genre? Well according to iTunes it's pop...na, don't think so. When you listen to track 6 for instance (Pencil full of Lead), which is a cross between swing and New Orleans jazz (with a reggae beat thrown in, you can hardly call it 'pop', you can give it 10/10 for originality though.

This is 22 year old Paolo's 2nd album, and whilst it has a 2009 release date, there seems to be some confusion as to whether it was released and shelved and re-released, who knows? Who cares?

This Scottish (yes really, even with a name like that) singer has a number of big name collaborators and fans and it is easy to see why, the confidence in his gruff and exuberant vocals is plain to see.

His song writing is superb and his singing fabulously husky. This man, by the way, pretty much did it all himself up to now, including supporting Amy Winehouse and getting himself across to the States to try and make a name, yes, he has a record contract now, and this album has been number 1, and rightly so, the depth of the album and the style changes are immense.

I have mentioned track 6 and most of the tracks are worthy of mention, but before I end up writing a Nutini dissertation I will concentrate on my favourites first:

The first track '10/10' is worthy of mention for two reasons; firstly Nutini sings a ska/early reggae number and I defy you to listen to this and not believe he is a black singer. Secondly, the one and only Rico Rodriguez (Specials), Mr Trombone himself is on the track, I bow at their feet, fantastic. Brilliant opener; so full of life. A real; 10/10 song, just like the title.

Track 2, 'Coming up Easy' is probably the track I listen to most, a really, really gorgeous song, fantastic lyrics, lazy and busy all at the same time, and the baritone sax' in the background is to die for. This is another top scorer at 10/10, sublime.

Track 3 is a folky number and track 4 'Candy'.....like, wow! This is sort of American road movie, mixed with angst mixed with lyrics that are quite seductive and suggestive. He has this vocal ability which is a bit like Quorn; whatever genre he sings, he absorbs the 'flavour' and it comes out of his throat perfectly 'right', yet another 10/10.

Track 7, 'No Other Way' is bluesy, soul/gospel and beautiful, nothing more, nothing less, not quite 10/10, but close. Track 11 is worthy of mention simply for the fact it is a traditional folk song, on an album like this, it just should not work, should never be here, it does and it is, brilliant. The only 'weak' track in my opinion is track 12, where his vocal seems a bit 'whiny' to me. The two iTunes bonus tracks are worth having; track 13 is a gruff bluesy, New Orleans influenced number, all raunchy and story telling, whilst the final track is just, well, strange, fast as anything with plenty of blues harmonica, over what is essentially a 50's type 'theme' song.


~~~Finally~~~

It is not often that any singer produces an album that is so diverse, that crosses so many genres, that has such a breadth of song writing and musical styles.....and he is only 22 for goodness sake.

I love this album to bits and have listen to every song dozens of times, the whole album is a real grower, I love it and, mark my words, this is a talented man who we are going to hear an awful lot of in the future, good stuff.

I cannot believe I am the first to write a review of this album, get on iTunes folks and buy it now!

1. 10/10
2. Coming Up Easy
3. Growing Up Beside You
4. Candy
5. Tricks Of The Trade
6. Pencil Full Of Lead
7. No Other Way
8. High Hopes
9. Chamber Music
10. Simple Things
11. Worried Man
12. Keep Rolling

And...on iTunes only
13. Smokey Joe's Cafe
14. Funky Cigarette

Summary: Sunny Side Up.