Paolo Nutini

The Scottish singer, best known for his jaunty pop single ”˜New Shoes,’ plays jubilant bard on his second studio album, a throwback to better days that everyone’s trying so hard to get a hold of. But the déjà vu on this one gets trying, there is only so much cheer one can wrap their heads around. Paolo’s Nutini’s voice is not as much his as it is of the ghosts of music past ”“ taking his album title to heart the songwriter references a flurry of good ol’ western swingers from Sinatra to Hank Williams, and delivers with an astounding penchant for impressions. On ”˜10/10,’ which begins with an emphatic horn progression, he boogies in swift reggae fashion, keeping ragtime with the Jamaican sway, but there’s too much of Bob Marley here for comfort. And this game of “guess who?” gets even more interesting as Nutini gets Cat Stevens spot on on ”˜Chamber Music,’ who is his inspiration on ”˜Worried Man’ as well. There’s a sliver of Don Mclean on ”˜Growing Up Beside You,’ Jerry Lee Lewis barrels through on ”˜Pencil Full of Lead,’ ”˜Keep Rolling’ bleeds with Sinatra’s melancholy, while Hank Williams perks up ”˜Simple Things.’ ”˜High Hopes’ is Nutini’s pitched spin on gospel taking refuge in the jangle of a bluesy harp, twanging mandolin, flute sections and thrumming tambourine. Perhaps it’s all just a scary coincidence or Nutini unwittingly recycled all his influences but everything sounds derivative. Of all the songs on this record ”˜Candy’ is probably the only genuine effort that Nutini could rightfully own. We’ve oft seen John Mayer do his funnies with his impressions of Dave Matthews and Clapton live, but does that a musician make? No, if Nutini’s album is anything to go by.