Paolo Nutini

Young Scottish upstart Paolo Nutini is set to make an international splash with his even-tempered soul-pop debut. Equal parts Marvin Gaye and Jack Johnson, Nutini straddles the line between sexed-up sensualist and coffee shop philosopher (the one-two combo of "Loving You" and "Autumn" is a great example). The snappy "New Shoes" is an instant winner, and the lengthy, introspective "Alloway Grove" proves how ambitious this kid actually is.

Paolo Nutini is a twenty-year-old Scotsman who looks like he could be in the Strokes and
sings like a cross between Jeff Buckley and some smoothie soulster. A hit in the U.K., his
debut is full of warm stuff -- gentle white-soul and acoustic balladry, a couple of breezy
rockers -- that stops just shy of totally cheesing out. But Nutini isn't James Blunt, or even
Daniel Powter, for that matter. Songs like the falsetto-laden love ode "Million Fac... More >