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