Paolo Nutini
These Streets (Atlantic)
Reviewed by Austin Powell, Fri., March 16, 2007
Paolo Nutini
These Streets (Atlantic)
Atlantic Records has a lot riding on Paolo Nutini, an estimated five albums and seven figures. If the Scottish lad's largely acoustic Live Sessions EP represented a casual introduction, then These Streets is the first date meant to sweep listeners off their feet. Produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Gomez), Streets features at least one additional songwriter per tune and includes all the bells and whistles associated with most major label debuts. There's the catchy single, "Jenny Don't Be Hasty," with added choral vocals and hand-claps, while "Rewind" gets wrapped in strings. The title track is left mostly untouched, revealing the sincerity and passion behind Nutini's world-weary vocals. "Last Request" benefits from dripping piano notes that sizzle alongside the Al Green-esque "Loving You." It's a promising start, but Nutini needs to assert himself a bit more in the relationship. (Saturday, March 17, Stubb's, 9pm)
