By SUJIN THOMAS

WHEN Scottish singer- songwriter Paolo Nutini debuted in 2006, he was immediately billed as being in the same pop category as James Morrison and James Blunt.

The unfortunate stereotyping did little to hamper the success of his record These Streets, which spawned slick singles like New Shoes and Jenny Don't Be Hasty - rock 'n' roll ditties centred on his own life experiences with, well, women.

Now, the 22-year-old comes back with his follow-up, Sunny Side Up, and one dares critics to dump him in the same Morrison/Blunt category.

Here, he attempts a vintage organic sound, though what makes the album sing are his raspy pipes and low-fi approach.

And the record's got a good dose of heart amidst a multitude of polished, radio-friendly releases.

The album opens with 10/10, a reggae-ska number featuring the ?uestlove of The Roots, as well as legendary trombonist Rico Rodriguez, who has worked with the Skatalites and The Specials.

Pencil Full Of Lead has Nutini take on the persona of Louis Armstrong with fast-paced swing. There, Nutini is backed by his six-member band The Vipers, horns and all. It is the kind of song one would expect to hear in a big-band jazz club of the 1940s. Tres chic.

While immersed in Americana and Scottish folk, tracks often shift abruptly from country to calypso, such as on High Hopes. It is perhaps my only grouse of this album.

But by the end, you'll be left on a high note nonetheless.

myp@sph.com.sg

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